Methyl Ethyl Ketone
A fast-evaporating, strong-solvency ketone — a workhorse solvent across coatings, adhesives, printing inks and composite resin processing.
Chelora Chemicals supplies methyl ethyl ketone to coatings, adhesives and resin-processing customers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 78-93-3
- IUPAC name
- Butan-2-one
- Molecular formula
- C₄H₈O
- Molecular weight
- 72.11 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 79.6 °C
- Melting point
- -86.3 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1193
- HS Code
- 2914 12
Note: MEK is also the precursor for methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), the common curing catalyst for unsaturated polyester resins. Confirm classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What MEK is used for
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a colourless, highly volatile and extremely flammable liquid with a sharp, acetone-like odour, partially miscible with water. It is produced industrially mainly by the catalytic dehydrogenation of sec-butyl alcohol (2-butanol), derived from butylene.
MEK's uses are dominated by its role as a fast-evaporating, strong-solvency solvent in coatings, printing inks, adhesives and vinyl-film production, where it is valued for its balance of evaporation rate and solvency power. It is also the precursor for methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), the most widely used room-temperature curing catalyst for unsaturated polyester resin systems.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Butylenes (Isobutylene / 1-Butene) the feedstock chain, hydrated and dehydrogenated to MEK. See Isobutylene.
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone (this product) the solvent and MEKP-catalyst precursor for the applications below.
- Unsaturated Polyester Resin a key downstream application via MEKP, the standard curing catalyst.
Handling character
MEK is highly flammable and causes narcotic effects (drowsiness, dizziness) at elevated vapour concentration, requiring standard solvent handling controls. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.5% min (industrial/coatings grade) |
| Water content | < 0.2% |
| Colour (APHA) | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless, highly volatile, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 79.6 °C |
| Melting point | -86.3 °C |
| Density | 0.805 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Partially miscible (~ 290 g/L) |
| Flash point | -6 °C (highly flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 78-93-3 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put MEK to work
The fast-evaporating solvent behind coatings, inks, adhesives and resin-cure catalysts.
Coatings & paint solvent
A fast-evaporating, strong-solvency solvent in industrial and wood-finishing coatings.
- Coatings-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Printing inks
Used as a solvent in flexographic and gravure printing ink formulations.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Adhesives & vinyl film
Solvent in adhesive formulations and in the production of vinyl and synthetic leather film.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
MEKP (resin curing catalyst)
Oxidised into methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, the standard ambient-cure catalyst for unsaturated polyester resins.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Degreasing & cleaning
Used as an industrial degreasing and parts-cleaning solvent.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Coatings and resin-processing plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity and water content are critical to coatings clarity and MEKP reaction control — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream coatings clarity and MEKP reaction control.
- UN 1193 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Coatings-grade and industrial-grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your end-use specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-210 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption coatings and resin-processing plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Highly flammable — handle accordingly
MEK is highly flammable and volatile, causes serious eye irritation, and may cause drowsiness or dizziness at elevated vapour concentration. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H336May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Use with adequate ventilation. MEK vapour can accumulate in low-lying or enclosed areas; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sunlight and oxidising agents.
Handling
Use solvent-resistant gloves and eye protection for liquid transfer. Provide good ventilation given its volatility; avoid prolonged inhalation and skin contact.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1193 (Ethyl methyl ketone), a highly flammable liquid. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Purity, water content and colour grade confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How MEK is made
MEK is produced industrially mainly by the catalytic dehydrogenation of sec-butyl alcohol (2-butanol), itself made by the hydration of n-butenes, over a zinc- or copper-based catalyst. A smaller share is recovered as a co-product from certain oxidation processes.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Aliphatic ketone |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Carbonyl (ketone) group |
| Reactivity | Oxidation to MEKP; general solvent; aldol-type condensation chemistry |
| Related compounds | Isobutylene, 1-Butene (feedstock chain), Acetone (related ketone) |
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Methyl Ethyl Ketone, answered
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