Properties: Tert.-Butanol is a colorless liquid which solidifies at room temperature. TBA is miscible with nearly all organic solvents (alcohol, ethers, ketones, esters and hydrocarbons) and water, too. TBA and water form an azeotropic mixture having a water content of 11.75%. In contrast to pure tert.-Butanol, the azeotrope is liquid even at room temperature. With strong acids, decomposition can take place mainly to give isobutene. Tert.-Butanol is largely stable to oxidizing agents and halogens, it is non-corrosive. Vapors can form explosive mixtures with air. Concentrated vapors have an anaesthetic effect.anaesthetic effect.

Use: Tert.-Butanol is a starting material for the production of tert.-butyl peroxides as polymerization initators. TBA is used as an alkylating agent for aromatics and phenols for the production of tert.-butylaromatics and, for example, tert.-butyl Cresol; for the production of tert.butyl esters as precursors for antioxidants, phenolic resins, pharmaceutical products dn perfumes. Due to its good dissolving properties and also good solubility in polar and non-polar substance, TBA is outstandingly suitable as a solvent and as a solubiliser, for example in waterbased paints, for the dewaxing of oils and as denaturing agent for Ethanol.

Information provided by Evonik