Printing with N-Propanol

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N-Propanol is available!

As technology improves the demand for a better printing quality improves as well. This is forcing the industry to find better solvent options. If you are looking for a good quality and economic source of ink N-Propanol is the solution. In the printing industry N-Propanol is mainly used in flexographic and special screening prints. It facilitates more economic printing while providing higher quality ink. N-Propanol provides higher ink stability, steady viscosity, advantageous wetting behaviour, and less foaming. N-Propanol solvency power helps maintain the solubility of ink resins as well. N-Propanol is perfect for printing and ink applications since:

Benefits of N-Propanol In Printing Applications

  • Economic printing.
  • Higher quality.
  • Low odor which is good when printing food packaging.
  • Higher printing speed.
  • Less scrap.
  • Saving concentrated ink.
  • Ideal evaporation rate for printing
  • Avoids defects like dirty printing or feathering due to its high solubility.

Using N-Propanol revealed over 20% savings in concentrated ink and related costs versus other source of inks. It is also easier to recycle N-Propanol since it requires less energy to purify it in comparison to other chemicals.

Other Uses of N-Propanol

Did you know that N-Propanol can be used as a solvent for cosmetics, perfumes, lacquer formulations, antifreezes, soaps, bug removers, and window cleaner as well?

Interested in using N-Propanol? Please call (800) 563-1305 or send an email to products@ecolink.com.

RBD Soybean Oil Applications

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What is Soybean Oil?

Soybean oil is oil extracted from soybeans.  This form of soybean oil is RBD, or refined, bleached, and deodorized soybean oil.  Within the refining stage, the soybean oil is cleaned to remove remaining impurities and goes through degumming to remove lecithin.  The soybean oil then goes through a bleaching process to remove any pigments and residues left behind from the refining process. The final step in the process is deodorizing the oil which is where volatile components are removed by steam distillation.

Various Applications of Soybean Oil

Soybean Oil has a wide range of applications that vary from industrial uses to consumer applications.  A few things soybean oil is used in are:

  • Glues
  • Plywood Adhesives
  • Laminating
  • Resins, and
  • Insecticides

Another category of products that soybean oil is in are coated papers, oilcloths, coated fabrics, paper sizings, and leather dressings.  Soybean oil may also be used within the production of paints, varnishes, ink, and soaps due to it having little to no pigmentation and being able to absorb pigments added to the oil to reveal a brighter color.  To find out more about the benefits of soy ink versus petroleum-based inks, visit our blog post Soy Ink vs Petroleum-Based Ink.  Some other applications for RBD soybean oil is as animal feedstock and used within firefighting lag foams.

Along with the several uses soybean oil offers, its derivative, methyl soyate, also has an extensive list of applications as an ideal alternative to harsh chemicals.  For more information regarding methyl soyate, visit our blog Methyl Soyate as an Alternative Solution.

To find out more about our RBD Soybean Oil, email us at info@ecolink.com, or call us at (800)563-1305.

Methanol Injections to Prevent Hydrate Formation

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Methanol Injections To Prevent Hydrate Formation

Thanks to its chemical properties, Methanol can lower the freezing point of a water-based liquid and increase its boiling point, therefore, it is used as an antifreeze to keep cleaning fluids from freeing.

Methanol is used as an inhibitor in natural gas pipelines, especially in cold climate facilities. It is injected in natural gas pipelines or enters the pipeline by methanol drips in order to reduce the freezing point of water during oil and gas transportation. In addition, this chemical is one of the most economical and practical solutions for preventing hydrate formations.

Determination of Methanol Injection Rate

Determining the right amount of Methanol can be challenging because after it is injected Methanol has to go through 3 phases: 1) the aqueous phase which is where the hydrate inhibition occurs 2) the vapor phase which can be calculated with different approaches or formulas 3) the hydrocarbon phase which is the hardest one to predict . The amount of Methanol to be injected has to be enough to replace methanol “losses” resulting from the vapor phase, and in order to suppress hydrate formation in the aqueous phase. The right amount of Methanol to be injected can be calculated by the sum of the calculations of each of these 3 phases. There are different Methods in order to determine the right amount of methanol that should be injected in order to prevent hydrate formation. Engineers are the ones who study these methods and come up with calculations. Normally the calculations that they make are available in tables.

How is Methanol Injected Into Pipelines?

After the desired dose of Methanol is calculated then the injection process begins. Methanol is injected into pipelines with an injection pump. Many other equipment such as timer in order to control the flow of liquid, a controller for controlling the amount of Methanol that is being used, a temperature sensor, and an electric motor in order to make some of these equipments work.

Interested in Methanol? Please call (800) 563-1305 or send an email to products@ecolink.com

Mineral Spirits in The Art Industry

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Mineral Spirits in the Art Industry

Mineral Spirits, if used properly, can help you save time and money in the art industry. Its main application is as a brush cleaner since it has a high solvency strength. The contact with Mineral Spirits in low quantity are harmless to your body. It is important to remember that even though Mineral Spirits are safer alternatives to other chemicals is still important to take precautions while using this chemical in order to prevent any possible reaction. Always read the label and never try to use more than recommended.

Mineral Spirits Applications in the Art Industry:

  • As a Brush Cleaner

Mineral Spirits works great as a cleaning agent. It can remove all the paint of your brush no matter the condition of your brush. Mineral Spirits helps to maintain brushes in good condition. What is nice about Mineral Spirits is that you can put a little of this chemical in a jar, clean your brush with it, and then save the jar with the liquid. Yes, you can reuse Mineral Spirits and this way you are saving time and money.

  • Creates A Different Style

Using small drips of Mineral Spirits on your painting can help you achieve a “messy” look if you want to go for that vibe.

  • To Blend Colored Pencils

Mineral Spirits can help you achieve a good blend result when using pencil colors without the need of a lot of expensive materials or techniques. Mineral Spirits break down the color that is difficult to blend in order to distribute the color over the painting/image that you are working on, and the best part is that it results in a professional finish. With the help of a cotton bund and mineral spirits you can use colored pencils as an alternative to watercolor pencils.

  • As a Replacement For Turpentine

Did you know that Mineral Spirits can be used as a substitute for Turpentine? This is perfect for the Art Industry. And the best part is that Mineral Spirits are safer to use due to its low VOCs. Turpentine can cause breathing problems, on top of that it is highly flammable, and it is a potentially hazard substance to have in an art studio/home. Mineral Spirits are not only safer to your body, they are more affordable than turpentine and it can also yield better results since it prevents paint cracking.

Interested in Mineral Spirits? Please call (800) 563-1305 or send an email to products@ecolink.com

Uses and Benefits of Propylene Carbonate

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Uses and Benefits of Propylene Carbonate

Propylene Carbonate is available!

Are you looking for a chemical with low toxicity, low evaporation rate, and VOCs exemption? Propylene Carbonate has all of those characteristics and it is suitable for a variety of applications. It can be used for painting, coating, as a cleaning agent, and as solvent for many other industries.

Benefits of Propylene Carbonate

Not only it has a low evaporation rate, low toxicity, and VOC exemption, Propylene Carbonate also has other benefits such as:

  • Improves lubricity
  • It is chemically stable
  • Co-firing in any atmosphere without oxidation
  • Excellent viscosity properties and green strength
  • Propylene Carbonate is one of the most eco-efficient alternatives for coating wires.

Applications of Propylene Carbonate as a Cleaning Agent

  • Ink cleaner
  • All purpose industrial and consumer cleaners
  • Electronic cleaners
  • Unsaturated polyester clean up
  • Metal cleaner
  • Degreaser

Applications of Propylene Carbonate in the Cosmetic Industry

Propylene Carbonate is not corrosive, therefore, it can use as a solvent for lipsticks, skin cleansing products, eye shadows, and mascaras. It is suitable for this industry since it has the ability to dissolve substance and it is a colorless, odorless, and  it is a not corrosive liquid.

Another uses of Propylene Carbonate

Did you know that Propylene Carbonate can be used to:

  • Remove CO2 from natural gas.
  • Increase electrolyte solubility/ionic conductivity, and decrease dioxide vapor pressure in lithium batteries.
  • As plasticizer
  • As an important intermediate in the synthesis of tenofovir.

Interested in using Propylene Carbonate? Please call (800) 563-1305 or send an email to products@ecolink.com