Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is an
organic peroxide
In organic chemistry, organic peroxides are organic compounds containing the peroxide functional group (). If the R′ is hydrogen, the compounds are called hydroperoxides, which are discussed in that article. The O−O bond of peroxides easily b ...
with the formula
3)(C2H5)C(O2H)">CH3)(C2H5)C(O2H)sub>2O
2. MEKP is a colorless oily liquid. It is widely used in
vulcanization
Vulcanization (British: Vulcanisation) is a range of processes for hardening rubbers. The term originally referred exclusively to the treatment of natural rubber with sulfur, which remains the most common practice. It has also grown to include ...
(crosslinking) of polymers.
It is derived from the reaction of
methyl ethyl ketone
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3. This colourless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone. It is produced industrially on a large scale, ...
and
hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscous than water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usually as a dilute solution (3 ...
. Several products result from this reaction including a cyclic dimer. The linear dimer, the topic of this article, is the most prevalent. and this is the form that is typically quoted in the commercially available material.
Solutions of 30 to 40% MEKP are used in industry and by hobbyists as
catalyst
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recy ...
to initiate the
crosslinking of
unsaturated polyester resins used in
fiberglass
Fiberglass ( American English) or fibreglass ( Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cl ...
, and casting. For this application, MEKP often is dissolved in a
phlegmatizer A phlegmatizer is a compound that minimizes the explosive tendency of compound or material. The term is derived from the word phlegmatic, meaning 'not easily excited'. Many chemical compounds that are potentially explosive have useful non-explosiv ...
such as
dimethyl phthalate
Dimethyl phthalate is an organic compound and phthalate ester. it is a colourless and oily liquid that is soluble in organic solvents, but which is only poorly soluble in water (~4 g/L).
It is used in a variety of products and is most commonly u ...
,
cyclohexane peroxide, or
diallyl phthalate to reduce sensitivity to shock.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical compound (specifically, an organic peroxide) with structural formula , often abbreviated as (BzO)2. In terms of its structure, the molecule can be described as two benzoyl (, Bz) groups connected by a peroxide ...
can be used for the same purpose.
Safety
Whereas acetone peroxide is a white powder at
STP, MEKP is slightly less sensitive to shock and temperature, and more stable in storage.
MEKP is a severe skin irritant and can cause progressive corrosive damage or blindness.
See also
*
Methyl ethyl ketone
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3. This colourless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone. It is produced industrially on a large scale, ...
(MEK)
*
Acetone peroxide (TATP)
Notes
External links
*{{Commons category-inline
CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsThe Register: Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible?*
ttp://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php?postnum=365 The Free Information Society: HMTD Synthesisbr>
How MEKP cures Unsaturated Polyester Resin (video animation)
Liquid explosives
Ketals
Organic peroxides
Radical initiators
Organic peroxide explosives