What is Acetone? In this short story, we imagine what chemicals would be like if they were people. Acetone is represented by our fictional character “Mr. Acetone”. It is set in a paints & coatings factory, since one of the main uses for the chemical is paints & coatings. Enjoy!
The sun hadn’t quite cracked over the east loading dock, and the Tennessee air was thick with dew and diesel fumes, when Mr. Acetone strode into the SolveCo Paints & Coatings facility – his first day on the job.
He stepped through the door with a confident gait and a crisp collared jacket, clean-cut and quick, ready to go. Mr. Acetone was the new hire on site, brought in to help out long-time employee Mr. Methyl Ethyl Ketone, who had been pulling double shifts for years. Stretched thin, they’d decided it was time to lighten his load.
In the breakroom, Mr. Acetone stirred cream into his coffee and sat quietly, listening to the light chatter around him. He knew that MEK was a fixture around here, a true workhorse in everything from solvent blends to high-performance coatings. But times were shifting. With growing pressure to lower reportable emissions, the new EHS manager had decided to bring in someone who didn’t trigger as many environmental red flags. (What Mr. Acetone didn’t know? That she was also quietly looking to cut operating costs – and he came in at just the right price.)
(What is Acetone? Acetone is a solvent that is commonly used in paints & coatings. One factor that contributes to its widespread use in industry is the fact that its emissions are non-reportable on the SARA Title 313 report. This means that companies looking to reduce their reportable emissions may use Acetone, instead of MEK or other reportable solvents, where possible. The chemical also comes at a lower price point.)
When he finished, Mr. Acetone went to the blending room where he had been told to report, an unmistakable sharp scent trailing behind him. Stainless steel tanks hummed around him, drums were lined up like sentries, and overhead, a ventilation fan whirred. Leaning against a cart was a tall, solid-looking man in a work apron, sleeves rolled up and safety goggles pushed to his brow. He gave Mr. Acetone a nod as he approached. “You must be Mr. Acetone. Welcome to the floor,” he said, offering a hand with solvent-stained knuckles. “Name’s MEK. Been here longer than that mixing pump.”
“Mr. Acetone,” the newcomer said with a smile, gripping his hand firmly. “Heard a lot about you.”
MEK chuckled. “All true, I’m sure. But I’ll be honest – I’m glad to finally get some help. I’ve been stretched too thin.” He led him toward the labeling station, gesturing along the way. “You’ll be handling cleaning duty – line flushes, tank wipe-downs, tool maintenance. Also, we’re shifting you to some thinner blends for fast-dry jobs. You’ll want to pace yourself, though… try not to evaporate before lunch!” he joked.
(Acetone has a sharp odor, and may be used to replace MEK as a solvent in cleaning applications. Also, it is a quick evaporator and could be used to replace MEK in certain thinners, reducers, and fast drying lacquers.)
“As for me, I’m still on the high-resin coatings and adhesives. Some of these polymers need a different touch than you’ve got.”
Mr. Acetone nodded agreeably. “Got it. Fast where it counts, but know when to step back. I can work with that.”
Mr. Acetone grinned as he got to work. This was his place, alright. The pace, the challenges, the constant scent of resin in the air… it all suited him.
Around mid-morning, a nozzle jammed on one of the spray stations. Mr. Acetone didn’t wait to be called. He’d heard the hiss cut short from across the floor. “Don’t force it,” he warned the operator as he approached. “You’ll strip the threading.”
He carefully dismantled the tip and cleaned it. “Never met a blockage I couldn’t dissolve,” he said cheerfully, as he strode away.
(What is Acetone? For a solvent, it is aggressive- and a powerful degreaser and cleaning agent. It may be used where other solvents aren’t effective.)
Then suddenly… it happened! A sharp, crackling sound tore through the air as a bright arc of electricity danced across an old control panel directly in front of him.
“RUN!” he shouted, turning and running as fast as he could, away from the panel, heading for the exit as the flash burst against metal.
Bright, clean air outside the plant met him at the door, and – heart still thudding in his throat – he collapsed on the grass. Sooo close. Too close. That was one thing about being as flammable as he knew he was. He always seemed to be… just one tiny accident… one malfunctioning electrical device or one spark away from… catastrophe.
Disaster averted. He could see the operator motioning from the door now, letting him know it was safe to come back inside. Mr. Acetone stood up and walked back to the plant.
(Acetone is extremely flammable, and sparks or heat sources that cause it to ignite, especially in an enclosed area like inside a factory, could truly be catastrophic!)
We hope you’ve enjoyed this fun story showing what Acetone is through our made-up character, Mr. Acetone!
If you need Acetone for any type of industrial application, get in touch with a representative, today!
