Sunday 1 November 2015

An overview of n-Butyl Acetate

n-Butyl acetate is a colourless solvent with average instability and a fruity odour that’s one of basic characteristics of ester. It’s widely used for production and application of various coatings and finishes, aerosol sprays, cosmetics, personal care products, fragrances, printer inks and as a processing solvent in chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

n-Butyl acetate is low in toxicity if ingested. In-case of skin contact, it’s less likely to cause any burns or rashes however, prolonged exposure will result in severe irritation, redness and discomfort. Liquid or vapour contact with eyes cause mild irritation and swelling. Excessive inhalation may cause breathing ailments and damage to upper respiratory tract and lungs. Drowsiness, anaesthetic or narcotic effects are other symptoms of prolonged exposure.

Product description & characteristics


n-Butyl acetate, whether in liquid or vapour form is combustible however stable under defined storage conditions. But, if the chemical undergoes temperature changes, it might decompose the product and release toxic gases. It has excellent solvency characteristics for resins, polymers, cellulose nitrate and oils while miscible with almost all organic solvents.

n-Butyl acetate’s linear molecular structure contributes to improved solvent diffusion from coating films and effective viscosity reduction. High electrical resistivity contributes towards formulating dense coatings for electrostatic spray applications. Odour characteristics are favourable as compared to other solvents having similar instability.

Exposure

  • Workplace
    Exposure is likely to occur at production facilities where butyl acetate manufacturers handle the compound frequently. Industry personnel who deal with maintenance, sampling, testing, formation of finished products and other procedures are also exposed. Chemical industries and various manufacturing plants should initiate a comprehensive training program to aware employees about workplace safety and brief them over handling and how to limit unnecessary exposure.
  • Environmental release
    In-case of spill, focus must be to prevent contamination of soil, ground water and other surfaces. Clean-up staff must take necessary precautions when cleaning to avoid respiratory ailment. All flammable sources must be removed from the affected area completely. This is usually in the event of large spills but with smaller leaks, n-Butyl acetate should be absorbed with material such as sand.

Provided above is an overview of n-Butyl acetate and how to carefully handle the compound along with attributes under certain conditions.

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