Name: Dimethyl Ether (DME)
SKU: 32954
Availability: InStock

Dimethyl Ether (DME)

£453.00

The product in aerosol is used as a propellant (factor for discharging content). It is used instead of the previously applied CFCs, as it has no harmful effect on the ozone layer. The product is therefore environmentally friendly. In addition, 100% of the energy needed to produce dimethyl ether comes from renewable sources (solar and wind energy).

DME in the aerosol present in a concentration of not less than 99.99%. It is produced in the dehydration of methanol followed by DME rectification.

Recommended use:

household chemicals,
aerosol cosmetic products,
lacquers and spray paints,
assembly foams,
foamed polystyrene foams.

Dimethyl ether has a good miscibility with water and the ability to dissolve polymers. It is also compatible with other solvents and propellants. Very high solubility of the product makes it popular as a propellant in spray paints. It improves their properties and facilitates application onto various surfaces.

DME is one of the most popular propellants, which are also used in the production of polyurethane foams. Its undoubted advantage in this application is the ability to simultaneously pump the propellant and solvent, which reduces and streamlines the production process.

High distribution coefficient allows dimethyl ether to be used also in the production of polystyrene foam (XPS). The properties of the product make it suitable for the production of boards with desired parameters, at lower production costs.

Other possible uses:

Tanning leather using DME

This method involves soaking the leather that requires degreasing and/or dehumidifying in one or more solvents. In this process, dimethyl ether is used as the solvent. Degreasing and/or dehumidifying is used for cow, pig, sheep or goat leather. The addition of DME solvent ensures the effectiveness of cleaning and improves the ecological safety of the process.

The refrigerant for cooling/ refrigerating equipment

Dimethyl ether as a mixture with ammonia (mass ratio of 40%/60%) may be used in freezing devices. The refrigerant is called R723. The use of such a mixture increases the efficiency of cooling devices. Mineral oil has a limited solubility in R723 mixture and is capable of operating with copper. These properties allow engineers to create a device with a low yield, but more effective than those that operate with currently manufactured refrigerants. By replacing 40% of ammonia with dimethyl ether in the existing refrigeration equipment, you can limit the ammonia content without sacrificing performance of the devices.

Product properties:

appearance: colourless gas [liquid gas],
odour (almost odourless – smell similar to pure DME),
mass fraction of the dimethyl ether, % ≥ 99.99,
mass fraction of non-volatile substances, ppm, ≤ 10,
mass fraction of water, ppm ≤ 50,
mass fraction of methanol, ppm ≤ 1,
mass fraction of sulphur compounds, ppm ≤ 1,
mass fraction of benzene, ppm ≤ 1,
total sum of hydrocarbons C₁-C₄, methanol, water and CO₂, ppm ≤ 100.

Description

Household chemicals and aerosol cosmetic products

Advantages of use:

very good solvent for polymers in hairsprays. It provides gentle dispersion of the product from the can,
highly compatible with hydrocarbon propellants (propane, butane, propane-butane, pentane),
very good solubility in water.

Lacquers and spray paints

Advantages of use:

it is both a propellant and a solvent,
rapid evaporation of DME ensures faster drying,
dimethyl ether minimizes the formation of streaks,
creates a homogeneous layer,
reduces the use of a paint to achieve similar effect,
it has a higher partial pressure than the in case of propane or butane.

Assembly foams

Advantages of use:

ideal propellant,
very good solvent for the fluoropolymer,
extends the life of the finished product,
good for controlling viscosity and structure of the foams,
a formula containing dimethyl ether may optimize winter formulations.

Foamed polystyrene foams

Advantages of use:

avoiding the additional use of other solvents (ethanol, acetone),
may be used instead of freon, lowering the production costs,
the high distribution rate makes it suitable for production of boards with a lower density, reducing the production costs,
allows the production of boards of greater thickness (up to 100 mm and above), which have improved compressive strength,
improves the thermal insulation properties,
helps to reduce CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere.