Applications for Acetone Substitute
Acetone is a powerful colorless solvent that is used to clean in the manufacturing process of many plastic, metal, and composite products. Common uses of acetone include cleaner for grease, oil, resin, ink, permanent marker, adhesive, and paint. Acetone may also be used to a limited extent in household products, including cosmetics and personal care products, where its most frequent application would be in the formulation of nail polish removers.
Polychem AcraStrip 600 CRR is a water-soluble, aqueous, non-hazardous, eco-friendly solvent replacement. This cleaner was designed to replace methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methylene chloride, xylene, mineral spirits, ethyl acetate, hexanone, and other petroleum-based products. AcraStrip 600 CRR was developed in partnership with the U.S. EPA DFE program and is used in the aviation, marine, military, recreational vehicle, structural composites, windings, pultrusion, wind energy, and tank manufacturing industries.
What is Acetone?
Acetone is a solvent, which is a liquid that can dissolve other substances. For example, when you touch nail polish removers that have acetone in them, you may notice that your skin becomes very dry. This occurs because Acetone is volatile and evaporates quickly, which sucks the moisture from your skin. This type of stripping quality can have benefits, but the health risks associated with Acetone often outweigh any potential benefits.
What is Acetone used for?
Acetone is a chemical consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. It is a clear, flammable liquid at room temperature. It is produced by humans in small amounts through routine biological processes but can be harmful in very high concentrations. Some of the common Acetone uses include:
- Solvent
- Cosmetic additive
- Fuel additive
Acetone Risks
Altough there are many common uses of Acetone, there are numerous risks associated with is. These risks can range from potential negative health consequences. The negative aspects of Acetone are as follows.
Potential Health Hazards
Acetone can irritate the nose and throat. At high concentrations, it can also harm the nervous system. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. Severe long-term exposure to Acetone can cause unconsciousness. Acetone is also an eye irritant that can cause moderate to severe irritation if exposed.
Highly Flammable
Acetone has a low flashpoint which means that it should be used in areas with minimal ignition sources. Large amounts of stored Acetone could pose a potential risk for a serious fire or explosion.
Federal Reporting Requirements
Certain federal agencies such as Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have established reporting requirements for the use of Acetone. This may deter companies from using Acetone due to the legal requirements surrounding it.
Alternatives to Acetone
For those that enjoy the beneficial effects of Acetone but no longer want to deal with many of its negative aspects, there are alternatives to Acetone. The following Polychem AcraStrip products provide all the benefits of Acetone solvent cleaners without all of the negative side effects.
Acrastrip 600 Auto
AcraStrip 600 Auto is a direct replacement for Acetone applications. It is a ready-to-use, non-hazardous, aqueous, eco-friendly cleaner that was specially formulated to replace acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, MIBK, paint thinners, and other petroleum-based products. Common uses for AcraStrip600 Auto, include:
- Chopper and gel coat gun flushing
- Flow coater flushing
- Putty rigs
- Pressure pot
- Foam equipment
- Adhesive machine flushing
- Paint and coatings stripper
- Graffiti removal
- General equipment cleaning
As a direct acetone replacement, AcraStrip 600 Auto is easily recycled through simple settling. Used AcraStrip 600 Auto can be collected in drums or totes and allowed to settle for 24-48 hours. A simple settle, filter, and add back procedure makes re-use quick and easy—unlike conventional solvents that require stills for recycling, AcraStrip 600 Auto does not require expensive energy costs or explosion-proof equipment.
AcraStrip 600 CRR
Polychem AcraStrip 600 CRR is a water-soluble, non-hazardous, eco-friendly solvent replacement. This cleaner was designed to replace methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methylene chloride, xylene, and other petroleum-based products. This replacement for Acetone applications was developed in partnership with the U.S. EPA DFE program and is used in a wide range of industries, including:
Additionally, this eco-friendly cleaner can also effectively outperform traditional solvents such as acetone, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and thinners due to its unique lifting characteristics and green technology.
Contact Us for Acetone Solvent Replacement AcraStrip Today
To order AcraStrip products for your Acetone applications, call us at 800-431-2072 ext. 360 or email us today.
