Methyl Amyl Ketone (MAK)

MAK (Methyl Amyl Ketone) has a high solvent activity, slow evaporation rate, low density, low surface tension, and high boiling point. These properties make MAK an excellent solvent for cellulosic lacquers, acrylic lacquers, and high-solids coatings. Because regulations limit the weight of solvent per gallon of coating, formulators favor low-density solvents that help reduce the VOC content of a coating. MAK is lower in density than an ester, aromatic hydrocarbons, and glycol ether solvents with similar evaporation rates. MAK’s low density and high activity are significant advantages when formulating high-solids coatings to meet VOC guidelines. MAK is also used as a polymerization solvent for high solids acrylic resins.