Methyl Acetate (assay min. 99.5%) is a neutral colorless liquid with a mild ester-like odor. It has a limited solubility in water; however it has good to high solubility with most common organic solvents.

Methyl Acetate is an excellent solvent for nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose ethers, celluloid, polyvinyl acetates; a wide variety of resins including acrylics, vinyls, epoxies, urethanes, polyesters, phenolics, and plasticizers as well as for most oils and fats.
The following substances are partially or sparingly soluble: shellac, manila copal, dammar, resin acid-modified phenolic resins, maleate resins, chlorinated rubber, novolacs, resols, urea-formaldehyde resins and polystyrene.
Insoluble substances: rubber, bitumen, polyvinyl chloride, polyisobutylene and polyvinyl carbazole.

As of this publication date, Celanese Methyl Acetate has the highest purity available in the market. Celanese high purity Methyl Acetate is used as an intermediate in a variety of synthesis applications, i.e. in production of pharmaceutical intermediates. Due to its high purity, Methyl Acetate can be used in numerous quality critical applications including as a solvent for polyurethane coatings and adhesives, blowing agent for polyurethane and other foams intermediates, process solvent for agricultural chemicals, general organic syntheses, etc. Other possible uses are paint strippers, fuel system cleaners and additives, battery electrolytes, polymerization solvents, cleaners for electronics, precision parts, photoresist strippers and inks: flexographic, gravure, marking and writing and for ink jet printers. Methyl acetate is a volatile solvent. It is therefore used in fast-drying paints and for the manufacture of celluloid adhesives from waste film. Methyl acetate is often used in lacquer solutions to lower the viscosity. Methyl acetate may also be used in perfumery and in dye manufacture. Methyl Acetate’s fast evaporation range suggest its use in formulated products such as fast dry industrial maintenance coatings, air-dry automotive refinish paints, aerosol coatings, quick dry adhesives, aerospace coatings and spray applied furniture coatings. For example, furniture coatings are often acrylic or nitrocellulose based lacquers containing a blend of fast and slow evaporation solvents. In such a system, the fast evaporation rate of Methyl Acetate can be balanced with a slower evaporation “tail” solvent to maintain the desired overall drying rate. Of course, the formulator must also be cognizant of flash point and blush resistance limitations when reformulating with Methyl Acetate.

Information provided by Celanese Corporation.