Methanol
Methanol is a clear, colourless, primary alcohol which is completely miscible with water. It is the first and most simple of the primary alcohols. Methanol is a polar solvent and burns with a non luminous bluish flame.
Methanol Common Uses
Paint & Resin manufacture – precursor in manufacture of Urea Formaldehyde and Phenol Formaldehyde resins. These resins are then supplied to the chipboard and medium density fibreboard industries as bonding agents.
Lacquer and Thinner formulations where good solvency and high volatility are desired.
Rubber Industry: Methanol is widely used as a rubber solvent in the manufacture of various rubber products. The low cost of Methanol makes it ideal for this application.
Production of biodiesel: Denaturant for ethanol and in synthetic gasoline manufacture.
Other uses include; printing inks, adhesives, antifreeze, in pharmaceutical manufacture.
Miscellaneous – Methanol should not be used in normal vehicles, as a fuel of this type will damage an unmodified engine.