Lots of folks in manufacturing, paint, and coatings circles run into N-Butyl Acetate, and for good reason. This clear, colorless liquid isn’t a rare find in the chemical catalog. If you unscrew a can of nail polish remover or step inside a paint shop, you might catch its fruity odor hanging in the air. This chemical comes with the formula C6H12O2, and the structure tells the tale — a blend of an ester group linking butanol and acetic acid, which gives it both its strong smell and its function. Its HS Code, 29153300, simplifies import and export responsibilities for handlers on the logistics side.
N-Butyl Acetate doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. Look at its density: roughly 0.88 grams per cubic centimeter at room temperature, lighter than water, always a good test if you’re ever wondering about a spill on the shop floor. Pour it out, and you’ll see it flow — this is a liquid, not a powder, not a flake, not a solid chunk or a pearl. It doesn’t crystalize at normal conditions, so no one’s scooping chunky bits from a barrel. You’ll find it dissolving easily in organic solvents like ethanol or ether, but don’t expect it to mix with water, which sets a clear line in how and where it gets used. Boiling point lands at about 126°C, and you’ll find it evaporating in a warm workspace. Its molecular weight clocks in at 116.16 g/mol. In practice, these numbers play out in daily operations: someone handling ten liters already starts to smell the sweet, vinegar-like fumes in a small space unless there’s good ventilation.
Anyone handling N-Butyl Acetate needs straight talk about safety. This is a flammable liquid, with a flash point of about 24°C — just above what you’d find on a warm day. No open flames, no sparks, and proper grounding of containers are non-negotiables in any shared workshop or warehouse. Breathing in the fumes can irritate the throat and eyes; headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness don’t make a person more productive, so a fume hood or mask should be routine kit. N-Butyl Acetate doesn’t sneak up as a hidden carcinogen, but that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Splashing it on skin or in eyes brings on irritation fast. Anyone with real experience knows how important well-labeled containers, spill kits, and sharp safety training are.
Industry loves this material for its solvency. Walk through a paint factory and the base starts with raw materials like N-Butyl Acetate to dissolve resins and pigments smoothly. Nail care products claim a good chunk of the market; pharmaceutical companies use it to create steady, reliable solutions. In cleaning, it sits in special degreasing blends and thinners. Its role isn’t glamorous, but anyone on the production side knows its ability to keep things mixed right, with a slow evaporation rate that buys extra drying time — handy for finishing woodwork or touch-ups. Mechanical shops and automotive crews measure it by the liter for controlled cleaning jobs.
Bringing this chemical onto a worksite means time thinking about drums, pumps, and ventilation systems. The standard drum carries 180 kilograms, and forklifts take steady hands because these drums aren’t forgiving if the lid rattles open. Storage must dodge direct sunlight and open flames. Steel drums last longer, but inner linings keep everything clean. In my own experience, having easy-to-read labels and a logbook for every refill makes a difference. Moving smaller amounts for laboratory use demands glassware or HDPE containers, labels displaying the hazard symbols, and a practiced hand to avoid spills.
Understanding details like its boiling point, density, and solubility isn’t just for the lab coat crowd. This knowledge keeps people safe, saves money on wasted material, and points a team toward safe disposal steps. I’ve watched new hires skip over the details, only to scramble when an odor grows thick or a quick spill eats through gloves. That basic understanding—knowing how much liquid equals a kilogram, feeling the difference in evaporation rate compared to ether, figuring out ventilation needs for a given volume—anchors safe practice and good production.
No chemical comes risk-free, and N-Butyl Acetate has routes into the air and onto the skin. Solutions start with honest labeling and real-world training, not just posters taped to the wall. For weighing and transferring the liquid, proper gloves, goggles, and a face shield matter every time. Handling waste means separating and labeling, not dumping into a catch-all bin. Good ventilation stands as a line of defense, sometimes as simple as cracking open a window or using a cheap fan in the right direction. Investing in spill kits pays off, especially if everyone knows how to use them.
Nobody can make quality paints or reliable coatings without the right raw materials. N-Butyl Acetate joins a list with butyles, acetates, and resins, turning bland, chunky bases into smooth, spreadable mixtures. A company with tight quality control checks certificate of analysis sheets for density and purity. Raw materials need a clean record, or every batch of finished product risks going sideways. There’s also constant pressure to balance price with purity—fluctuations hit the market hard and experience teaches which supplier delivers a steady stream year after year. Despite market ups and downs, the demand for this liquid ester stays solid; its balance of volatility and solvency keeps it high on the list for people who need steady results on the shop floor or in the lab.
