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 CH₃)(C₂H₅)C(O₂H)sub>2O₂. 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 includ ...

(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 formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3. This colourless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone. It is produced industrially on a large scale, but occurs in n ...

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.

Solution Solution may refer to: * Solution (chemistry), a mixture where one substance is dissolved in another * Solution (equation), in mathematics ** Numerical solution, in numerical analysis, approximate solutions within specified error bounds * Solutio ...

s 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 recyc ...

to initiate the

crosslinking Cross-linking may refer to *Cross-link In chemistry and biology a cross-link is a bond or a short sequence of bonds that links one polymer chain to another. These links may take the form of covalent bonds or ionic bonds and the polymers can ...

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 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 us ...

cyclohexane peroxide Cyclohexane is a cycloalkane with the molecular formula . Cyclohexane is non-polar. Cyclohexane is a colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive detergent-like odor, reminiscent of cleaning products (in which it is sometimes used). Cyclohexan ...

, or

diallyl phthalate 1,5-Hexadiene is the organic compound with the formula (CH)(CH=CH). It is a colorless, volatile liquid. It is used as a crosslinking agent and precursor to a variety of other compounds. Synthesis 1,5-Hexadiene is produced commercially by the eth ...

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.

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

Safety

See also

Notes

External links