ARCOSOLV DPMA - Dipropylene Glycol (Mono) Methyl Ether Acetate - is a colorless, combustible liquid with low toxicity. It has a characteristic mild ester odor and has low viscosity, making it a good viscosity control agent. It is a powerful solvent with a moderate evaporation rate and provides good coalescing ability.
Benefits and Applications
Coatings: ARCOSOLV DPMA is ideal for coatings applications requiring a slow evaporating non-hydroxylic solvent. ARCOSOLV DPMA provides good solvency for a wide variety of resins including acrylic, epoxies, alkyds and polyesters.
ARCOSOLV DPMA is an active solvent in solvent- based coatings and silk screen printing inks. It can also be used in solvent-based coating applications where a tailing solvent is desired. Its limited water solubility in combination with the slow evaporation rate allows ARCOSOLV DPMA to be used as a coalescent in waterborne emulsion systems.
Toxicology/Regulatory
DPMA is considered to be transiently painful but not damaging to the eyes. DPMA is not expected to be appreciably irritating to the skin nor readily absorbed through the skin with repeated or prolonged exposures. It is not considered to be sensitizing to the skin or respiratory system. Some minor nasal, throat and respiratory irritation will occur but is expected to be tolerable at normal occupational exposure levels.
ARCOSOLV DPM Acetate is an acetate ester derivative of the propylene glycol-based ethers. The propylene glycol-based ethers, even at high concentrations, do not present the toxicity effects associated with most of the ethylene glycol methyl and ethyl substituted ethers. In particular, damage to the thymus, reproductive and developmental toxicity, kidney effects, and effects on the blood and blood forming tissues are not observed with the propylene glycol ethers. ARCOSOLV DPMA is not considered to be mutagenic.
Regulatory Status: Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet for more specific information.
Dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate is on the U.S. (TSCA), Canadian (DSL) Australian (AICS), Korean (ECL), Philippines (PICCS), and China (IECS) inventories.
Dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate is not on the European Community (EINECS) or Japanese (ENCS) inventories.
Storage and Handling
General industry practice is to store ARCOSOLV DPMA in carbon steel vessels. Avoid contact with air when storing for long periods of time. Glycol ethers should never be stored or handled in copper or copper alloys. This product may absorb water if exposed to air.
Store only in tightly closed, properly vented containers away from heat, sparks, open flame or strong oxidizing agents. Use only non-sparking tools. Ground containers before beginning transfer. Electrical equipment should conform to national electric code. Due to its low order of toxicity ARCOSOLV DPMA requires no special handling. However, undue exposure or spillage should be strictly avoided as a matter of good practice. Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet for ARCOSOLV DMPA for more specific information.