Comparative experimental data on the drying rate of acetone and n-butyl acetate?

Acetone and n-butyl acetate drying speed comparison experimental data analysis

In the chemical industry, the drying speed of solvents is an important performance indicator, especially in the fields of coatings, printing, adhesives and so on. Acetone and n-butyl acetate are commonly used organic solvents, which show significant differences in drying speed due to their different chemical and physical properties. In this paper, the drying speed of acetone and n-butyl acetate will be analyzed by comparing the experimental data, and the influencing factors will be discussed.

1. Acetone and n-butyl acetate basic properties

Acetone ((CH3)2CO) is a polar organic solvent, colorless and transparent, with a special smell. Its boiling point is 56.5°C, and its low boiling point makes it easy to volatilize at room temperature and fast drying. Acetone is widely used in spray paints, mold release agents and cleaners, especially where rapid volatilization and drying are required.

N-butyl acetate (CH3COO(C4H9)) is a non-polar organic solvent, colorless and transparent, with aromatic odor. Its boiling point is 126.5°C, much higher than acetone. The high boiling point of n-butyl acetate means that it is less volatile and the drying speed is relatively slow. It is commonly used in paints, glues and inks, and is suitable for scenes that require a long time to wet.

2. Drying speed contrast experiment design

Objective: To compare the drying speed of acetone and n-butyl acetate under the same conditions.

Experimental conditions:

• Temperature: 25 ° C
• Humidity: 50% RH
• Coating thickness: 100 μm

Experimental method: The prepared substrates were uniformly coated with acetone and n-butyl acetate, respectively, and the time required from the completion of coating to complete drying of the surface was recorded. The accuracy of the data is ensured by averaging multiple experiments.

3. Experimental data analysis

According to the experimental results, the drying time of acetone is about 15-20 seconds, while the drying time of n-butyl acetate is about 60-90 seconds. This means that acetone dries much faster than n-butyl acetate.

The main factors affecting the drying speed:

1. Volatile: The low boiling point of acetone (56.5°C) makes it extremely volatile at room temperature and can quickly convert from liquid to gaseous, thereby shortening the drying time. The high boiling point of n-butyl acetate (126.5°C) leads to its low volatility, and the volatilization rate is slow at the same temperature.

2. Polarity: Acetone is a polar solvent that can mix better with water and other polar substances, but this also affects its wettability and permeability on non-polar substrates. In contrast, the non-polar nature of n-butyl acetate gives it better wetting on some substrates, although the drying rate is slower.

3. Environmental factors: In the experiment, the humidity was 50% RH, and moderate humidity had a certain inhibitory effect on the volatilization of acetone, but its low boiling point characteristics still made it dry much faster than n-butyl acetate. If the humidity is high (e. g. above 70%), the drying time of acetone may be slightly extended, while the drying time of n-butyl acetate is less affected by humidity.

4. Coating thickness: In the experiment, the thickness of the coating is 100 μm, which can better reflect the drying characteristics of the solvent. If the coating is too thick, the drying time of both solvents will increase, but the relative advantage of acetone may be further reduced.

4. Summary and application

As can be seen from the experimental data, acetone dries significantly faster than n-butyl acetate. This is closely related to its low boiling point, high volatility and strong polarity. In scenarios that require fast drying (such as painting, electronic component cleaning, etc.), acetone is a better choice. In scenarios that require longer wetting times (such as certain paints and glues), n-butyl acetate may be more suitable.

Solubility, chemical stability, toxicity and environmental impact should also be considered when selecting solvents. For example, the high polarity and low boiling point of acetone may make it less adhesive on certain substrates, while the non-polar nature of n-butyl acetate may be more advantageous in certain applications.

The comparative experimental data of the drying speed of acetone and n-butyl acetate provide us with a preliminary reference, but the specific application scenarios still need to be comprehensively evaluated in combination with the actual needs.