What is a solvent, and what are the commonly used solvents?

Any volatile liquid used to dissolve paint, resin, cellulose derivatives and other film-forming substances are called solvents.  Solvents also serve as diluents.  It is the main component of liquid paint.  

(1) Turpentine.  It is a colorless and light yellow transparent liquid with a special odor and an average evaporation rate.  Can dissolve natural resins and oils.  Mostly used in ester glue paint, aldehyde paint and alkyd paint.  

 (2) Pine water.  Also called 200# solvent gasoline.  Colorless and transparent liquid, evaporation speed is similar to turpentine, has low toxicity and low price. It is currently the most commonly used solvent in oily and alkyd paints.  

 (3) Benzene.  Colorless transparent liquid with aromatic odor.  Toxic, flammable and explosive.  It has fast evaporation speed and strong solubility.  Mostly used in nitrocellulose paint or paint stripper.  

 (4) Toluene.  It is a colorless and transparent liquid with an aromatic odor. Its evaporation rate is second only to benzene and is toxic.  Used as a thinner for alkyd, nitro, perchlorethylene, acrylic and other paints.  

 (5) Xylene.  It is a colorless and transparent liquid with an aromatic odor. Its evaporation speed is average. Its solubility is inferior to that of toluene, but stronger than turpentine and rosin water.  It has the same uses as toluene and is less toxic than benzene and toluene.  

 (6) Ethyl acetate, butyl acetate.  Colorless flammable liquid with fruity aroma.  It has strong dissolving power and is often used in nitrocellulose paint thinner and moisture-proof agent.  

 (7) Ethanol.  It is a polar organic solvent, a colorless, transparent and flammable liquid with a smell of alcohol. It evaporates quickly and absorbs moisture easily.  It is infinitely miscible with water and can dissolve shellac and alcohol-soluble resins.  When used in combination with the solvent of nitrocellulose paint, it can be used as a co-solvent for nitrocellulose paint, but the amount should not be too large, otherwise the paint film will easily turn white.  

 (8) Acetone.  It is an organic solvent that evaporates very quickly.  It has a sour and bitter taste, is colorless and flammable.  Can dissolve oil, resin and rubber.  Also miscible with water and ethanol.  Easy to absorb moisture.  Mostly used in perchlorethylene paint and nitrocellulose paint.  

 (9) Cyclohexanone.  It is a colorless oily liquid with an odor of acetone.  Stable performance and not volatile.  In paint, it can improve the smoothness of the paint film and prevent the paint film from turning white. It is often used as a co-solvent for spray paint.  

 Styrene, gasoline, kerosene, etc.  Styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid with an aromatic odor that is specifically used in unsaturated polyester paints.  Gasoline is volatile and flammable, and is often used to clean paint tools or prepare oil colors and primers.  Kerosene is not volatile and cannot be used to mix paint, but it can clean lacquer and tung oil tools.  Adding it to the sand wax can dilute the sand wax and make it easier to operate.  

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