Butyl Propionate lines the shelves in chemical storage rooms mostly as a colorless liquid that reminds you of fruity notes if you catch its odor. Its chemical formula, C7H14O2, reveals a simple structure—an ester built from butanol and propionic acid. The molecular structure carries seven carbon atoms, fourteen hydrogens, and two oxygens, stitched together to deliver an organic compound that finds work in different industries. People know its CAS number as 590-01-2. The HS Code, used in international trade, lands at 2915.39, marking it out in customs databases. This is not a household compound; it hangs out in labs and factories much more than in kitchens or medicine chests.
Nobody reaches for Butyl Propionate expecting anything more exciting than a plain, watery solution. Its liquid form comes with a density hovering around 0.88 g/cm³ at 20°C, not far off from water, making it easy to handle and blend in mixes. It resists freezing until well below standard room temperature—set the thermostat to -73°C, and only then will it freeze solid. As for boiling, the liquid meets its limit at 146°C, a characteristic that separates it from more volatile solvents. Anyone used to working with acetone or ether will notice the much higher flash point here; you need 40°C before vapor starts becoming a flammability risk. This safeguard shapes storage and handling rules. Butyl Propionate dissolves in oils much better than in water, so mixing in aqueous formulations can turn into a headache. For the most part, though, it stays in liquid form, and you won’t see it as flakes, pearls, powder, or solid chunks—just a see-through fluid swirling in drums or liters inside chemical tanks.
The backbone of the compound comes from its ester bond. The butyl group links to the propionate through an oxygen atom. This bond drives the solvent strength and compatibility with coatings and inks. If you draw the molecular skeleton, it folds into an unremarkable—but effective—zigzag with a COO bridge in the middle. Specifications matter for large-scale buyers—water content needs to stay low, often below 0.1%. Purity hits 99% or better for reputable brands, keeping color clear and avoiding haze.
Factories turn to Butyl Propionate for good reason. It acts as a solvent in paints, coatings, and adhesive formulas. Printers appreciate its moderate evaporation because it slows down drying, allowing the ink to spread without streaking or drying on the press. Manufacturers of nail products sometimes use it as a softer, less noxious alternative to acetates. Its solvent power smooths stubborn residues and cleans equipment. The balance of volatility and solvency means it rarely gets top billing, but it often does background work none the less. Its odor is sweet and faint, so workplaces using it find fewer complaints about fumes compared to harsher chemicals.
International shipments bear the UN number 2364. Custom agents track Butyl Propionate under HS 2915.39, which helps nail down taxes and environmental rules. Safety sheets spell out that it counts as a flammable liquid, class 3, reminding warehouse managers to keep it stored away from heat and sparking machinery. Packaging joins the hazardous class, calling for tight seals and proper labelling whether packed in bulk tankers or steel drums. Rules by the US EPA or the EU’s REACH registry ask for proof of safe handling—ventilation, spill management gear, goggles, gloves. Workers get training because inhaling high vapor levels or getting the liquid on skin can cause harm.
Butyl Propionate needs careful respect in the shop. Sparks turn the fumes into a fire risk before you might realize it’s even evaporating. Ventilation fans have to stay running in paint facilities using this solvent. Skin contact with the raw material can bring quick irritation, so gloves and masks never stray far from the workstation. As with most solvents, the real problem comes from repeat, careless exposure. Headaches, drowsiness, even shifts in attention can hit users breathing the vapor for hours on end. In rare cases, large spills reaching drains threaten aquatic life, forcing compliant disposal, not casual dumping. Fire marshals push for safety cabinets and clear spill kits on hand, a culture formed less by headlines and more by learned caution.
Suppliers in Europe and East Asia dominate the production lines. The main raw materials—normal butanol and propionic acid—both link back to the big petrochemical complexes, so prices in global markets can shift on what’s happening in the oil sector or in political shifts. Batches get inspected for water, acidity, and color before shipping. Major buyers usually sign supply contracts that set floor and ceiling prices, keeping things steady over the quarter. End users—paint makers, ink factories, adhesive blenders—prefer shipments in bulk, stored in tankers or 200-liter drums. The market rarely sees shortages, but weather or logistics tangles at key ports can still gum up lead times.
The density, evaporation rate, and solvency power have a way of shaping the day-to-day grind in production facilities. For small paint shops, the relatively slow evaporation gives room for longer brushwork on big walls; large coatings factories configure their air flows around these properties to control indoor air levels and safety. Problems crop up where operators get lax—leaking valves or loose lids add overhead for fume extraction and spill response. Firms that push for safer alternatives face tradeoffs: fewer fire risks, but also often less effective cleaning or weaker fume tolerance. The sweet, mild odor lets workers stay on task longer, but rules for personal protective equipment aim to prevent the slow buildup of problems over years.
OECD and EPA data mark Butyl Propionate as a mild irritant—acute risks hover around accidental splashes, not catastrophic events—yet the focus keeps circling back to flammability. The flash point around 40°C rules out heated storage near open flame. Fire crews report vapor ignition as the main risk in warehouse fires involving this compound. Aquatic toxicity numbers rest squarely middle-of-the-road compared to more reactive solvents, so spill protocols keep containment in focus. Certifications like ISO 9001 for handling and distribution, and rigorous MSDS sheets, form the backbone of responsible use.
Improving safety means tighter seals, smarter venting, and new additives that suppress evaporation or odor. Factories now collect vapor with active carbon filters, recycling more of what used to drift out the roof vent. Labs test bio-based versions, tracking molecular changes that might lower risks without breaking performance. Managers invest in regular worker training and better hazard signage, while buyers look for containers with easier open-and-shut lids that cut leak chances. Sourcing tries to build more redundancy into supply, so that port blockages or strikes don’t stall production lines.
This solvent does not fade out in industrial chemistry discussions. It sits in that space between high-octane, high-hazard cleaners and gentle, slow-moving substitutes. Its chemical profile gives companies flexibility, but with that comes responsibility—safer storage, smarter use, stricter oversight of routes from reactor to shipping dock. With new tech and tougher regulation on chemicals, Butyl Propionate faces the same scrutiny and drive for improvement that shapes the entire market: blend safety, performance, and cost, all while looking for new ways to do less harm and more good.
