N-butyl acetate, known to some as butyl ethanoate, acetic acid n butyl ester, or by its CAS number 123-86-4, doesn't get much spotlight outside chemical circles, but anyone spending time on the factory floor knows its real value. This liquid, with a boiling point of about 126°C and a density of around 0.882 g/cm3, plays the role of a trusted workhorse in everything from paint shops to laboratories. Its molecular weight clocks in at 116.16 g/mol, and its moderate vapor pressure helps it evaporate just enough to leave products dry but not cracked. In daily work, n butyl acetate shows up under many trade names—acetate de butyl, normal butyl acetate, n butil acetat, or n butylacetate. Sigma Aldrich lists the compound in most industrial warehouses, making it a staple for procurement teams.
All around, people encounter n-butyl acetate through painted walls, freshly finished furniture, or even a nail polish bottle. This solvent doesn’t announce itself to the consumer, but purchasing teams always review its price and compare suppliers to keep costs in check. N butyl acetate finds use as a solvent in coatings and adhesives, but in the print industry, it’s the answer to strong-yet-subtle ink performance. In leather and textile spaces, the acetic acid n butyl ester keeps finishes smooth. Some cleaners use this chemical because it cuts through grease while maintaining a relatively pleasing, fruity odor. Finding a chemical both effective and easy enough to ventilate matters in any workshop. Its moderate solubility in water (about 5g/L at room temperature) lets factories clean their tanks without long shutdowns or extra effort.
Anyone storing drums of n butyl acetate watches temperature and fire risk closely. The vapor pressure, roughly 11 mmHg at 20°C, makes good ventilation a priority. Facilities want to avoid vapor buildup, so fans stay on and detectors stay calibrated. Since the chemical doesn’t mix perfectly with water, spills run off instead of diluting down drains—good for quick cleanup but watch for environmental rules. Labels might say butyl ethanoate or n butyl acetate cas number 123-86-4, but the structure stays the same—a four-carbon butt ending in an acetate ester, simple yet indispensable.
Working with procurement, I’ve seen the market price for this compound shift based on oil and global transportation hiccups. Some seasons, acetate n butyl costs push suppliers to hunt for better deals or rethink batch sizes. In regions with stricter emission laws, factory owners keep a close eye on n butyl acetate vapor pressure, sometimes trading off speed of drying for lower atmospheric losses. Since it’s also known as butyl ethanoate or n butyl acetate cas, different regions and languages keep safety sheets stacked high to cover every naming possibility. In tight quarters or shared warehouses, clear rules prevent accidental mixing with oxidizers. Those practical concerns—leak-proof seals, visible labels, backup ventilation—make a bigger impact than any far-off study or headline.
No single replacement covers all the uses of butyl ethanoate. In automotive finishing, painters like how it balances drying time against smooth flow. In electronics, the solvent properties mean residue comes off circuit boards without damage. Chemists choose n butyl acetate because it’s predictable—structure C6H12O2, known synonyms like n butil acetat, even the butyl ethanoate structural formula or n butyl acetate sigma aldrich listing all align on stock lists and shipping manifests. Cost matters, so buyers compare n butyl acetate price and factor it against alternatives, but chasing price too far sometimes leads to supply issues or missed specifications.
Demand for n butyl acetate will keep pace as long as people want cars with shiny finishes, flexible adhesives, and durable inks. Some companies now look toward greener supply chains or explore closed-loop recycling to capture evaporated solvent and cut waste. As environmental rules tighten, the density of n butyl acetate and its vapor pressure put extra pressure on storage design and recovery systems. Since n butyl acetate solubility in water stays low, wastewater processing needs more attention in busy factories. My own experience shows that process tweaks—better capture, tighter storage, spot checking for leaks—help businesses both save product and meet compliance. For chemical companies, the future includes adapting to all these details, not just selling drums of clear liquid but solving problems with expertise built across decades handling, storing, and using this flexible chemical.
