Product description: Polysolvan® O (Poly O) is a colorless liquid with a very faint, ester-like odor. It contains no ethanol. Polysolvan® O is miscible with the common organic solvents, but only partially miscible with water. In view of the thermal stability of Polysolvan® O as a “2-hydroxy ester”, reactions such as glycolide formation, transesterification, saponification and etherification are likely at elevated temperatures, especially at boiling point (180 °C). The effect of the resultant changes is an extension of the boiling range upwards.
Dissolving power: Polysolvan® O has excellent dissolving power for polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl butyrals, vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride/dicarboxylic acid copolymers, nitric acid esters of cellulose (nitrocellulose, celluloid), cellulose ethers, chlorinated rubber, many natural and synthetic resins and most oils and plasticizers.
The following substances are sparingly soluble: Manila copal, shellac, acetic acid esters of cellulose (cellulose acetate), polystyrene (painted articles), indene resin and alkyd resins modified with oleic acid or fatty acid.
Polysolvan® O does not dissolve: Dammar, rubber, bitumen, aldehyde resins, polyisobutylene, painted articles made of polyvinyl chloride (not post-chlorinated) and polyvinyl carbazole, polymethacrylates and polyacrylates.

Applications: Because of its very low volatility Polysolvan® O is used chiefly as a paint additive in the form of a highly effective flow agent. When added in amounts of 3-5 % it gives nitrocellulose lacquers excellent gloss and smooth flow properties. To produce a higher gloss the amount of Polysolvan® O in leather lacquers based on nitrocellulose can be increased. Because of its faint odor Polysolvan® O is also used in brush-applied paints. Although Polysolvan® O hardly dissolves cellulose acetate at all, it can be added to cellulose acetate paints to prevent blushing at high relative humidity. Similarly it is used as a paint additive in alkyd resin and oil paints. The occasionally severe wrinkling of various oil paints can be largely prevented by an addition of 1 – 2 % Polysolvan® O. The addition of Polysolvan® O as a high-boiling solvent to stoving finishes effects uniform flow of the paint film. Polysolvan® O is also employed in the manufacture of printing inks, where extremely faint odor, high boiling point and low volatility are of particular importance. The high dilutability of Polysolvan® O has a beneficial effect in all applications. A highly successful use of the product is in lowering the minimum film-forming temperature (DIN 53 787) of polyvinyl acetate dispersions. When Polysolvan® O is added, it might happen that initial thickening occurs as a result of partial dissolving of the polymer particles; slow addition is therefore recommended. Furthermore it is advisable first to emulsify Polysolvan® O with an equal quantity of water.

Information provided by Celanese Corporation.