Methyl Isoamyl Ketone (miak)

MIAK (Methyl Isoamyl Ketone) has high solvent activity, slow evaporation rate, low density, low surface tension, and a high boiling point. These properties make MIAK a very good solvent for high-solids coatings. Because regulations limit the weight of solvent per gallon of coating, formulators favor the use of low-density solvents that help reduce the VOC content of a coating. MIAK is lower in density than ester, aromatic hydrocarbons, and glycol ether solvents with similar evaporation rates. The low density and high activity of MIAK are significant advantages when formulating low-viscosity, high-solids coatings. In addition, MIAK is useful as a polymerization solvent for high solids acrylic resins.