Ethyl Acetate

Low-odour, fast-evaporating ester solvent for coatings, inks, adhesives, pharmaceutical synthesis and precision cleaning.

At a Glance

CAS No.	141-78-6
Chemical Name	Ethyl acetate (ethyl ethanoate, acetic acid ethyl ester, acetic ether)
Molecular Formula	C4H8O2
Purity	≥99.5%
Origin	China
Packaging	210 L steel drum (180 kg) / IBC / ISO tank / small drum
Lead Time	15–20 working days after deposit

Product Overview

Ethyl acetate — also called ethyl ethanoate or acetic acid ethyl ester — is a short-chain fatty acid ester refined by distillation to a purity of ≥99.5%. It is a colourless, transparent liquid with a clean, sweet fruity odour and a fast evaporation rate.

It is slightly soluble in water and miscible with alcohols, ketones, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons and most other organic solvents, with outstanding solvency for resins, oils and dyes. Its mild odour makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative to aromatic solvents. As a Class 3 highly flammable liquid, it requires full ventilation and static control in production, storage and transport. UN and HS codes are indicative and are confirmed before each shipment.

Key Advantages

High Purity and Tightly Controlled Impurities

Continuous distillation keeps water, alcohol and free acid content low, holding purity at ≥99.5%. Your coating, ink or pharmaceutical batch stays free of film blushing, ink dulling and side reactions — suitable for high-end coatings and pharmaceutical production standards.

Fruity, Low-Irritation Odour That Suits the Shop Floor

A light fruity note instead of the sharp smell of xylene. In indoor coating, printing and enclosed production lines it is far less irritating to the respiratory tract, helping you meet indoor air and environmental requirements.

Strong Solvency and Even Evaporation for a Flawless Finish

It dissolves acrylic, nitrocellulose and alkyd resins and printing inks at a controlled rate to leave a smooth film free of pinholes and orange peel, cutting reject rates in spraying and printing lines.

Direct Factory Supply with Full Export Documentation

Own hazardous-goods warehousing with stock on hand. Drum, IBC, ISO tank and full-container or LCL shipments. MSDS, COA, dangerous goods packaging certificate and commodity inspection documents are provided, with logistics support for import customs clearance.

Applications

Ethyl acetate is used across coatings and printing inks, adhesives, pharmaceutical intermediates, flavour extraction and electronics cleaning.

• Coatings and printing inks — a dedicated thinner for nitrocellulose lacquers, wood coatings, plastic coatings and flexo/gravure inks. It adjusts evaporation rate and improves film gloss and print definition, making it a mainstream solvent for coating and printing plants.
• Industrial adhesives — dissolves polyurethane, acrylic and chloroprene rubber to formulate laminating, footwear and pressure-sensitive adhesives, improving adhesive flow and coating uniformity.
• Pharmaceutical intermediates and flavour extraction — a reaction solvent and purification/extraction medium for antibiotics and vitamins, with low impurity levels that do not interfere with synthesis; also a carrier for natural fruit and floral flavour concentrates and for the separation of oils and pigments.
• Electronics precision cleaning — for PCB boards, optical lenses and lithium battery separator slurry dilution and part degreasing. It evaporates quickly with no ionic residue, suited to cleanroom production.

Technical Specifications

Appearance	Colourless clear liquid with a fruity odour; readily volatile
Purity	≥99.5%
Molecular Formula	C4H8O2
CAS No.	141-78-6
EINECS No.	205-500-4
Relative Density (water = 1)	0.90
Flash Point	-4 °C (CC)
Boiling Point	77.2 °C
Hazard Classification	Class 3 flammable liquid
Stability	Stable at ambient temperature and does not decompose readily; avoid prolonged contact with water, which causes hydrolysis; remains stable when containers are kept sealed
Solubility	Slightly soluble in water; soluble in alcohols, ethers, ketones, chloroform and most organic solvents
Storage	Store in a cool, ventilated warehouse away from ignition sources and heat. Warehouse temperature should not exceed 37 °C and containers must stay sealed. Store separately from oxidisers, acids and alkalis — never mixed. Use explosion-proof lighting and ventilation, and do not use equipment or tools that can produce sparks. The storage area must hold spill-response equipment and suitable containment material.

Composition

Component	Concentration	CAS No.
Ethyl acetate	≥99.5%	141-78-6

Transport & Compliance

UN No.	UN1173
Hazard Class	Class 3 flammable liquid
Packing Group	II
HS Code	2915310000
Packaging	180 kg per drum (210 L steel drum)

UN and HS codes are shown for reference only — please confirm with us before shipment.

FAQ

What is your minimum order quantity?

Our MOQ is one 20GP container — up to 80 drums of 210 L.

What packaging do you offer?

Standard 210 L steel drums, plus IBC totes, ISO tank containers and small drums.

How many drums fit in a 20GP or 40GP, and can you consolidate?

Yes, we consolidate up to 5 product types in one shipment. A 20GP holds up to 80 drums (210 L); a 40GP holds around 130 drums (210 L).

What is the lead time?

15–20 working days after the deposit is received.

Which export documents do you provide?

COA, MSDS, commodity inspection certificate and dangerous goods packaging certificate. We can also assist with Certificate of Origin and other customs paperwork.

What payment terms do you accept?

T/T: 30% deposit, 70% balance against a copy of the Bill of Lading.

Technical Documents