Propylene

Propylene Glycol Versus Ethlyene Glycol

Glycol an organic compound belongs to the alcohol family. One of the simplest members of the class is Ethylene Glycol which is one of the organic compounds being talked about in this blog, along with Propylene Glycol which is another member of this class that isn’t as simple as Ethylene Glycol.

What is Propylene Glycol?

For the simplest terms, Propylene Glycol is a liquid that has no color, no smell, and no taste and belongs in the chemical class of alcohol. Propylene alcohol serves the main purpose of absorbing water. People will commonly mistake Propylene glycol for Ethylene glycol, but the contrast is that Ethylene glycol is toxic. Propylene glycol is an additive product and serves many different purposes in a multitude of industries.

Some of these uses for Propylene Glycol include:

  • Food Industry Coolants
  • Deicing and antifreeze fluids
  • Non-ionic Detergents
  • Plasticizers
  • Hydraulic brake fluids
  • Solvent
  • Extractant
  • Humectant
  • Unsaturated Polyester Resins

What is Ethylene Glycol?

Slightly similar but different, Ethylene glycol is a synthetic liquid that also absorbs water. Ethylene glycol is odorless, colorless, and also in contrast has a sweet taste. As mentioned before, Ethylene glycol is toxic which makes it the biggest difference from Propylene glycol  besides having a taste, unlike the tasteless Propylene glycol. Ethylene glycol serves similar purposes in different industries but lacks some of the other uses and is limited in applications.

Some uses of Ethylene Glycol include:

  • Antifreeze and de-icing solutions
    • Auto
    • Aviation
    • Boating
  • Hydraulic brake fluid
  • Inks (used in)
    • Stamp pads
    • Ballpoint Pens
    • Print Shops

Toxicity?

Propylene glycol and Ethylene glycol through their descriptions and definitions have many similarities, but the biggest difference that needs to be discussed is their levels of toxicity and Ethylene glycol being heavily toxic. The ATSDR classifies Ethylene glycol as a CNS depressant, a similar substance would be ethanol, classifying it as a hazardous material. Ethylene glycol if ingested affects kidney function and can affect the acid/base balance in the human body. Propylene glycol is not toxic compared to Ethylene glycol because it’s recognized as safe by the ATSDR for the pharmaceutical and food industries, and rarely results in toxic effects. In circumstances where there was a toxic effect, it was in strange circumstances. Though they both serve important purposes one is safer for human consumption than others.

For more questions about chemicals, you may be handling or coming into contact with contact us here today!

MMineral Spirits Versus Acetone

Mineral Spirits Versus Acetone

Two common solvents mineral spirits and acetone are used commonly for many different practices. In this blog, we are going to examine the two different kinds of solvents, their uses, and if they have similarities or differences between each other.

What are Mineral Spirits?

Mineral spirits are a petroleum replacement for other vegetable-based turpentine. For other clarification, turpentine is an oil made from turpentine or pine wood and is used in mixing paints. Mineral spirits are a clear liquid which is a common solvent that is organic for painting. There are many other names for specific kinds of mineral spirits. Mineral spirits can remove skin oils that help protect the skin. They should also not be ingested  because they can make it into your lungs, and cause irritation. Mineral spirits have many different uses, some uses for mineral spirits include:

  • Painting solvent
  • Paint Thinner for oil-based paint
  • Cleaning painting brushes
  • Degrease car parts
  • Help remove spilled paint
  • Remove scuff marks off wood
  • Restoring wood furniture
  • Shine outdoor tools

What is Acetone?

Acetone in simplest terms is also commonly called propanone. It is a colorless liquid that is very volatile and flammable with a strong odor to it. It is a solvent that is used in chemical reactions. It is one of the simplest fat-derived ketones which ketones are chemicals that your liver makes in your body. It is a natural chemical found in the environment and in the human body from the breakdown of fats. The natural organic kind of acetone has many other uses when not functioning naturally in the body some examples include:

  • Solvent to manufacture plastic
  • Solvent to manufacture many different industrial products
  • Cosmetics
  • Personal Care Products
  • Nail polish removers
  • Dissolves Styrofoam
  • Removes scuff marks
  • Cleans kitchen appliances
  • Remove ink stains

Mineral Spirits Versus Acetones

So what are some similarities and differences and what makes one better than the other? Well from up above many of the same applications can be used for both products especially in-home care areas in simple tasks like removing paint or ink stains, or scuff marks. In the differences, acetone is flammable whereas mineral spirits are less flammable. Acetone has a strong odor and is irritating while mineral spirits have either no odor or a kerosene-like odor. While some of their applications are the same mineral spirits are not used in the beauty industry at all like acetone because it’s used more in paints where acetone is used in nail polish removers and other similar categories.

If you are seeking chemicals in bulk and don’t know where to start, contact us here for more information.

Ecolink A USA Chemical Supplier

Ecolink A USA Chemical Supplier

In the current state of the world, it seems that more businesses, companies and individual peoples are looking to purchase from other companies or items that are either located within the United States or made in the USA. It can sometimes be intimidating purchasing out of the country because you may not know what you are going to get. There is a sense of security buying in the same market that you know your money is going back into the home economy.

What is a Supplier?

The role of a supplier can be a business itself, like us here at Ecolink or a singular sales person. That role is to help get a product or service to another business, individual etc. With our role here through Ecolink, we help provide sustainable chemical products from another manufacturer at our own price to another entity for their use or resale.

Here at Ecolink we pride ourselves in being the sense of security and reassurance that you can have purchasing through a USA chemical supplier. Purchasing chemicals through us is such an easy process for you and your business. Embracing the new technologies of the internet and easy connections to get in contact for specialty orders we offer a few things.

What do we offer?

  • We will help you find whatever you are looking for, even if we don’t have it!
  • We have superior customer service to tailor to your every need
  • We have custom blend possibilities
  • We welcome bulk or single drum orders from our customers
  • We have one to three day lead times
  • Finally, we offer a simple online checkout to make your experience as hassle free as possible.

Even if online shopping is something you struggle with, our customer service representatives will help you through any trial you may face. If you find yourself tired of dealing with other difficult USA chemical suppliers, and want a change of pace, we could be the right fit for you! Shop some of our products here. Even get in touch with our customer service to help get you on the right track here. We hope to work with you soon!

Video Jet Printers

Video Jet Printers Uses And Applications

What are Video Jet Printers?

In the printing world, there are so many emerging technologies ones we’ve used before, and many that are breaking barriers of what we know and can do. Recently, I did some research into VideoJet Printers and learned about who they provide for and what they can do for the printing industry. VideoJet’s industrial printers do a wide variety of regular printing to thermal transfers, and labeling systems. They even have a process where ink that isn’t used can be put back into the printer during the printing process.

Videojet Printers provide many different products. They are an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and provide printers to lasers, to anything you can think of that prints something onto a product.

Industries Printers are used in are:

  • Food and Beverage
    • Candy
    • Beverages
    • Eggs
    • Fruits & Veggies
    • Meat
  • Pharmaceuticals & Beauty
    • Cosmetics
    • Pharmacy
    • Medical equipment
    • Tobacco
  • Industrial
    • Auto Industry
    • Aerospace
    • Chemicals
    • Construction
    • Electronics

Covering a wide range of industries these printers can cover so many different products and services. While we now know what industries these printers can be used for it’s also important to know what specific products it can be applied to.

Applications of VideoJet Printers:

  • Packaging
  • Lumber
  • Egg Cartons
  • Plastic Parts
  • Glass Bottles
  • Glass Containers
  • Shrink Wrap
  • Film & Foils
  • Aluminum Cans

While there are many more applications to list most are subcategories of the main ones listed above. If you are using printers like these, one of the biggest questions you can ask yourself is what do you clean these products with when you’re done, well that depends on what solvent you use.

Simply put if you use an ethanol based solvent, then you need an ethanol based cleaner to clean it. Whatever you put in you use something of the same family to treat and clean it. According to VideoJet, that is the most effective way to clean their products.

If you or someone you know has a VideoJet Printer that needs cleaner, and you need help matching a cleaner for your product, contact us here or if you already know what you need you can find a list of our cleaning solutions here.

What is 90 White Oil

What is 90 White Oil?

To begin, we should discuss the overall view of white oil in general. When people normally think of oils what do they think about? Fuel oil, motor oil, or oil for their food: olive, avocado etc. The closest one came to when thinking about white oil is food oils.  White oil is a kind of clean mineral oil that is safe to use in many different industries. White oil is clear and has no smell,  and is tasteless. This makes it easier to be applied in and on many different items.  90 White oil has been made in a way that it meets the needs for Kosher lifestyles, and is made so that it can be safely in contact with food. This is a refined product by using high pressure hydro treatment and is stabilized with vitamin E.  The 90 in 90 white oil refers to the viscosity grade of the oil there are three other grades along with 90 White Oil.

Three Grades of 90 White Oil

  • 70 White Oil
  • 90 White Oil
  • 220 White Oil
  • 350 White Oil

The main difference between all these products is essentially the viscosity of the products listed above. Viscosity is basically the thickness of the oil and how thick or runny the product is, and that varies by who is interested in the product. Otherwise it is all White Oil, but different viscosities may be needed for the different types of applications this product has.

Applications of 90 White Oil

  • Cosmetics
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Textile Fiber Lubricant
  • Fruit and Vegetable Coatings
  • Coatings for Kitchen Supplies (Knives, Bakery Pans etc)

The application of 90 White Oil and other white oil viscosities are used on some of the most common products Americans use everyday. This product has so many benefits that make it a safe usable product for a variety of  companies and products. For more information on our white oil products contact us here.