Acetone

Propan-2-one 

1L – 20L Multi Listing

Acetone (99.8%) is a colourless, volatile and highly flammable liquid that is the simplest and smallest form of Ketone. Acetone is miscible with water and is used mainly as a solvent in laboratories. Acetone is a common building block in organic chemistry however; the most common form of acetone is acetone which can be used as a nail varnish remover or paint thinner. (Below each use will be explained in more detail.)

Solvent Use

Acetone makes a brilliant solvent which is used within many plastic and synthetic fibres. It is also used for thinning polyester resin, cleaning various types of tool and also for dissolving epoxies and superglues before the hardening process begins. In this respect acetone makes a great addition to any model or sculpture maker’s kit. Acetone is used as a solvent by the pharmaceutical industry and as a denaturant in the denatured alcohol. Acetone is also present as an excipient in some pharmaceutical drugs. It can also be used to dissolve acetylene.

Degreasing Use

As a degreaser acetone is useful in the preparation of metal prior to painting. It is also useful for high reliability soldering applications to remove rosin flux after soldering is complete; this helps to prevent the rusty bolt effect. To use this product, simply apply the solution into your carpet cleaning machine at the dilution rate of 10ml to every 1L of water. The dilution rate should be the same even if you don’t have a carpet cleaning machine (You can apply this formula via a spray bottle if you don’t have a carpet cleaning machine). Next you should apply the product to the desired areas and lave to work for a few minutes, clean the carpet as you usually would.

Laboratory Use

In the laboratory, acetone is used as a polar, aprotic solvent in a variety of organic reactions, such has sn2 reactions. The use of acetone solvent is critical for the Jones oxidation. It does not form an azeotrope with water. It is a common solvent for rinsing laboratory glassware because of its lower cost and volatility. Despite its common use as a supposed drying agent, it is not effective except by bulk displacement and dilution. Acetone is fluorescent under ultraviolet light and it vapour can be used as fluorescent tracer in fluid flow experiments. Acetone is used to precipitate proteins.

Medical and Cosmetic

Acetone is used in a variety of general medical and cosmetic applications and is also listed as a competent in food additives and food packaging and also in nail polish remover. Many of the salons who buy our acetone as nail polish remover have rated it five stars for quality and buy regularly. Dermatologists use acetone with alcohol for acne treatments to peel dry skin. Acetone is regularly used in chemical peeling and for toe care.

Domestic and Niche Uses

Acetone is the primary competent in cleaning agents such as nail polish remover. This means it is used in bulk by nail salons. Acetone is a key component of superglue remover and easily removes residues from glass and porcelain. Make-up artists make extensive use of acetone to remove skin adhesive from the netting of wigs and moustaches by immersing the item in an acetone bath, then removing the softened glue residue with a stiff brush. Acetone's ability to loosen hardened glues makes it ideal for arts and crafts. Acetone is often used for vapour polishing of printed artefacts on 3D-printed models printed with ABS plastic. The technique, called acetone vapour bath smoothing, involves placing the printed part in a sealed chamber containing a small amount of acetone and heating to around 80 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. This creates a vapour of acetone in the container. The acetone condenses even all over the part, causing the surface to soften and liquefy. Surface tension then smoothes the semi-liquid plastic. When the part if removed from the chamber, the acetone component evaporates leaving a glassy smooth part free of striation, patterning and visible edges, common features in untreated 3D printed parts.

Please Note: The colour and accessories as seen on these images may look slightly different due to lighting and other factors, if you should require a specific colour then please get in touch with us.

Health & Safety

Please be aware this chemical is highly flammable and should be handled with care.

This is a low hazard product so it is safe for normal use.

This formula does have the ability to cause skin reactions and can cause serious eye irritation.

If on the skin: Wash with plenty of water

If in the eyes: Rinse continuously with water for several minutes (ensure contact lenses are removed if this applies)

If eye irritation continues, please seek medical attention.

An MSDS sheet can be provided upon request if you require more detailed information.

FAQ’s for Acetone

What does acetone react with?

ANSWER: Acetone reacts with halogens such as Iodine; this is where a Ketone (Acetone) is mixed with a halogen and a base.

What are the hazards of acetone?

ANSWER: Breathing moderate to high levels of acetone during a short period of time can be harmful. Acetone can also cause irritation to the lungs, eyes, throat and nose. Headaches, light-headedness, confusion, increased pulse rate and unconsciousness can also occur if the fumes are inhaled for long periods of time. Please use this product with caution, in a well ventilated room and/or wear a mask to use this product.

Does acetone remove moisture?

ANSWER: Due to acetone being miscible with water, it is very useful for removing residual water from spray equipment when changing water based products to solvent based products.

What does acetone do to plastic?

ANSWER: This is completely depends on the plastic. In particular, if the plastic bears similarity to the acetone it will dissolve, or at least affect the surface of the plastic. It can cause softening, smearing and worst case dissolve the plastic completely. However, dissimilar plastics to acetone will remain unaffected by the solution.

What residue does acetone leave if any?

ANSWER: We recommend wiping down any surfaces with IPA after the use of acetone, this is because once acetone residue is dry it can be difficult to remove dependant on the surface. However please be aware these solutions are highly flammable and should be used with caution and on appropriate surfaces that can be cleaned down properly after use.

Can acetone start a fire?

ANSWER: Yes! Acetone is an extremely flammable liquid and should be used responsibly and with caution. Even the fumes from this liquid can be flammable. Do NOT use near any open flames or heated surfaces!

Is acetone corrosive to metals?

ANSWER: Acetone will not damage metal, as a common industrial solvent used to clean metal surfaces the acetone will remove dirt and grease from metal surfaces.

Does acetone affect glass?

ANSWER: Continual use on glass can be potentially harmful to its surface. Ensure you wipe it down is acetone is used on a surface with glass.

Can bacteria live in acetone?

ANSWER: Acetone isn’t usually used as a sterilising agent, so generally some forms of bacteria can still survive even if acetone is used.

How do you dilute Acetone?

ANSWER: You can dilute acetone with water, of course the more water you add, and the less powerful the acetone will be.