n-Butyl Acetate

Medium-evaporating ester solvent for high-end coatings, printing inks, industrial adhesives, pharmaceuticals and fragrances.

At a Glance

CAS No.	123-86-4
Chemical Name	n-Butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate, acetic acid n-butyl ester)
Molecular Formula	C6H12O2
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

n-Butyl acetate — also called butyl ethanoate or acetic acid n-butyl ester — is refined by continuous distillation to a stable purity of ≥99.5%, with water, free acid and heavy-end impurities held to tight limits. It is a colourless, clear liquid with a fresh, mild fruity odour and a balanced, medium evaporation rate that has made it the industry-standard medium-drying ester solvent.

It is slightly soluble in water and fully miscible with alcohols, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum solvents, with even solvency across acrylic, nitrocellulose, polyurethane and chlorinated rubber resins and excellent film formation. It is less irritating than aromatic solvents. A Class 3 flammable liquid in Packing Group III, it carries only a slight narcotic and eye/respiratory irritation risk and can be handled with normal workshop ventilation. UN and HS codes are indicative and are confirmed before each shipment.

Key Advantages

Balanced Evaporation for Outstanding Film Formation

Its medium-drying profile avoids the blushing, pinholes, orange peel and sagging caused by solvents that flash off too quickly or too slowly — valuable on high-end automotive refinish and wood coating lines, where it cuts reject rates.

Broad Resin Solvency, Exceptional Formulation Latitude

Dissolves nitrocellulose, acrylic, polyurethane, chlorinated rubber and alkyd resins cleanly. Use it as the main solvent or as a slow-drying regulator in thinners and reducing systems, leaving plenty of room to tune a formulation.

Low-Irritation Fruity Odour, Workshop-Friendly

No sharp xylene or ketone smell. With low respiratory irritation it is far more comfortable for operators in enclosed coating and printing shops, and helps you meet VOC control requirements.

Factory-Direct Supply with Complete Export Documentation

Own hazardous-goods warehousing with stock on hand. Full container, LCL and tanker shipments. COA, MSDS, dangerous goods packaging certificate and commodity inspection documents are provided, with one-stop logistics support for importer customs clearance.

Applications

n-Butyl acetate is used across high-end coatings, printing inks, industrial adhesives, and pharmaceutical and fragrance production.

• High-end coatings — the main solvent for automotive refinish paints, polyurethane wood lacquers, industrial anti-corrosion coatings and plastic coatings. It balances evaporation speed and improves film gloss, levelling and weather resistance, making it a standard ester solvent for premium topcoats.
• Printing inks — a thinner for food-packaging flexo and gravure inks and screen inks that improves pigment wetting and keeps print work bright and sharp, without screen blocking or drying-in at high press speeds.
• Industrial adhesives — a blending solvent for polyurethane laminating adhesives, synthetic leather adhesives, footwear adhesives and pressure-sensitive adhesives, adjusting open time and coating flow to improve bond strength.
• Pharmaceutical and fragrance applications — an extraction and purification solvent for antibiotics and botanical extracts, and a carrier for banana and pineapple type flavour and fragrance compounds; also used in nail polish and cosmetic solvent production.

Technical Specifications

Appearance	Colourless transparent liquid with a fruity odour
Purity	≥99.5%
Molecular Formula	C6H12O2
CAS No.	123-86-4
EINECS No.	204-658-1
Relative Density (water = 1)	0.88
Flash Point	28.5 °C
Boiling Point	126.1 °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 ethanol, ether, hydrocarbons and most other 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.
n-Butyl acetate	≥99.5%	123-86-4

Transport & Compliance

UN No.	UN1123
Hazard Class	Class 3 flammable liquid
Packing Group	III
HS Code	2915330000
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