Product Overview
N-Butyl Acetate is a clear, colorless liquid solvent with a strong fruity odor, classified under CAS 123-86-4. This listing is the Reagent grade — a designation that buyers in analytical labs, QC departments, and R&D benches specifically request when their work demands a documented level of solvent consistency beyond what a technical or industrial grade provides. Alliance Chemical offers this product in sizes from 1-quart bottles through 330-gallon totes, covering everything from benchtop method development to full-scale production solvent supply.
As a Class 3 flammable liquid (UN1123, Packing Group III per 49 CFR 172.101), N-Butyl Acetate ships under full DOT hazmat protocol from our Taylor, TX warehouse. Every order includes safety data sheets and lot-specific documentation so your receiving team can file it on arrival.
Why This Grade
The Reagent designation tells a buyer that this N-Butyl Acetate is sourced and packaged for work where solvent variability can skew results — titrations, extractions, HPLC sample prep, or any analytical procedure where you need to trust the solvent isn't introducing unknowns. If your operation is a paint line, parts-cleaning station, or adhesive formulation house running production volumes, a technical or industrial grade may serve you at lower cost. The Reagent grade exists for the buyer whose downstream work is sensitive enough to justify the procurement distinction.
When evaluating whether Reagent grade is the right call, consider what your process tolerates. A coatings formulator running hundreds of gallons a week through a spray booth has different purity concerns than a QC lab running residue testing. Match the grade to the sensitivity of the work — overspending on solvent grade is as wasteful as underspending is risky.
Chemical Profile
N-Butyl Acetate (molecular formula C6H12O2, molecular weight 116.16 g/mol) presents as a clear, colorless liquid with a strong fruity odor characteristic of the ester family. It is a flammable liquid with a flash point of 72–88 °F (per the product's GHS classification). The liquid has a density of 0.875 at 68 °F — roughly 7.4 lb per gallon — which makes it less dense than water; spilled material will float on a water surface rather than sink. Solubility in water is limited, at 1 to 5 mg/mL at 68 °F, so it behaves as a largely immiscible organic phase in aqueous systems. Vapor pressure sits at 10 mmHg at 68 °F, giving it a moderate evaporation rate that balances working time against dry-down speed in coating and cleaning applications. Vapors are heavier than air and will accumulate in low-lying or poorly ventilated spaces — a critical consideration for storage and workplace layout.
Industrial Applications
N-Butyl Acetate is one of the workhorse solvents in industrial chemistry, valued for its solvency strength, controlled evaporation rate, and relatively mild odor profile compared to other ester and ketone solvents.
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Coatings and paints. In lacquers, enamels, and protective coatings, N-Butyl Acetate dissolves resins and film-forming polymers while evaporating at a rate that allows the applied film to level and flow before setting. Formulators adjust their solvent blend ratio — often mixing butyl acetate with faster or slower evaporating cosolvents — to dial in open time for brush, spray, or dip application.
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Adhesive formulation. Contact adhesives and laminating adhesives use N-Butyl Acetate to keep the polymer system in solution during application. The solvent flashes off after the bond is made, leaving the adhesive film intact. Its controlled volatility prevents the adhesive from skinning over too quickly during open assembly time.
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Extraction and synthesis. In pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing workflows, N-Butyl Acetate serves as a liquid-liquid extraction solvent — its low water miscibility lets it pull organic compounds from aqueous phases cleanly. It also functions as a reaction medium and intermediate in organic synthesis routes where an ester solvent with moderate polarity is needed.
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Cleaning and degreasing. For parts cleaning, equipment flush, and surface preparation, N-Butyl Acetate dissolves oils, greases, waxes, and cured resin residues. It is used in print shops for press wash, in composites shops for tool cleanup, and in maintenance operations where a slower-evaporating solvent gives operators more working time than acetone or MEK.
Handling & Storage
N-Butyl Acetate carries a GHS signal word of Warning (per the product's GHS classification), with the following hazard statements:
- H226: Flammable liquid and vapour (per the product's GHS classification)
- H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness (per the product's GHS classification)
- EUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking (per the product's GHS classification)
With a flash point as low as 72 °F, this solvent is ignitable at or near room temperature in warm environments. Eliminate all ignition sources — open flames, hot surfaces, static discharge, and sparking tools — in any area where N-Butyl Acetate is used or stored. Ground and bond all containers and transfer equipment during pouring or pumping.
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area, ideally in a dedicated flammable-liquids cabinet or rated storage room. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use. HDPE or glass containers are appropriate for storage; verify compatibility if transferring to other vessel materials. Keep away from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. Operators should wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof safety goggles, and work in ventilated spaces or use respiratory protection if vapor concentrations may exceed occupational limits. Because vapors are heavier than air, ensure ventilation at floor level in enclosed work areas.
Hazmat & Shipping
N-Butyl Acetate is a DOT-regulated hazardous material. Every shipment from Alliance Chemical is classified, packaged, marked, and documented in accordance with 49 CFR requirements. The governed transport data:
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UN Number: UN1123 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Butyl acetates (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 3 — Flammable Liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: III (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Packing Group III indicates the lowest degree of danger within Class 3 flammable liquids. Shipping papers, hazmat placarding (where quantity thresholds apply), and proper packaging are handled by our hazmat-trained warehouse team for every outbound shipment.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order of N-Butyl Acetate. SDS documents are available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese — request your preferred language at the time of order. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is also available, documenting the analytical results for the specific production lot you receive. If your quality system requires a Technical Data Sheet (TDS), that document is available on request as well. Contact our team before or after ordering to request any documentation your facility's receiving or QC process requires.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This N-Butyl Acetate is available in 16 packaging configurations — from a single quart for lab evaluation up to 330-gallon totes for production-scale consumption — so you order the quantity your operation actually needs without forced minimums or oversized commitments. Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998, shipping hazmat-classified chemicals daily from our warehouse at 204 S Edmond St, Taylor, Texas. Shipping and handling guidance for this product is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist (USDOT Registration #2188383).
