ABSTRACT
The lower acetate esters constitute a significant proportion of the total market for acetic anhydride derivatives. Because of the ability of these esters to solubilize polymers such as cellulosics, nitrocellulosics, acrylics, and polyesters, these materials are useful as solvents in coatings, adhesives, cosmetics, and film base applications. These materials have also found use as process solvents in the specialty chemical, pharmaceutical, and agrichemical industries. These esters are also used as carrier solvents in agrichemical formulations and in extractive procedures, such as coffee decaffcination
Physical properties such as evaporation rate, boiling point, and "solvent power" (loosely defined as the ability of the solvent to reduce the viscosity of a polymer solution) often determine which ester is used in a given application. Evaporation rate is often a key factor in coatings and adhesive applications, and thus these acetate esters are often blended with each other or other types of solvents (such as ketones or alcohols) to give a formulation with the desired combination of solvent properties and evaporation rate.
