N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP)

N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) is a high boiling, polar aprotic, low viscosity liquid. NMP has a good solvency for a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds and it is miscible with water at all temperatures and has a high chemical and thermal stability. It is used as a solvent for engineering polymers and coating resins. Additionally, the polar nature and the low surface tension of NMP makes it an excellent cleaning medium and paint stripping solvent.</p> <p>NMP is a powerful solvent with a low volatility used for a wide range of chemicals and finds its application among others in:</p> <p><strong>Petrochemical processing:</strong><br> NMP is used as extraction medium in several industrial processes because of its affinity for unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatics, for example butadiene recovery, BTX extraction, lube oil purification, ...</p> <p>As illustration for the strong selectivity of NMP towards acetylene, the table below shows the solubility of acetylene in various solvents.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#C7C7C7"><p><strong>Solvent</strong></p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#C7C7C7"><p><strong>K value</strong><br> (1 atm ml gas/ ml solvent, at 20°C)<strong></strong></p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#C7C7C7"><p><strong>Boiling point</strong></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p> NMP</p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>43</p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>204°C</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>DMF</p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>36</p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>153°C</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>Aceton</p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>17.5</p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>56.5°C</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>BLO</p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>17</p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>204°C</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="132" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>Cyclohexanone</p></td> <td width="221" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>14</p></td> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#E5E5E5"><p>155°C</p></td> </tr> </table> <p><strong>Electronics:</strong><br> NMP is used as photoresist stripper, for defluxing, degreasing and cleaning.<br> NMP is a solvent for the production of FCCL, polyamide/polyimide wire enamels, epoxy and polyurethane coatings, ...<br> </p> <p><strong>Pharmaceuticals:</strong><br> NMP can be used as solvent, extraction medium, …<br> </p> <p><strong>Industrial and household cleaning:</strong><br> NMP is used for paint stripping, in graffiti removers, oven cleaners, in automotive and industrial cleaner formulations, ...<br> </p> <p><strong>Agrochemicals:<br> </strong>NMP can be used as solvent during synthesis or as a formulation agent. </p>