3-Methoxy Butanol is a colorless, neutral liquid with a mild odor. It is miscible with water and the commonly used organic solvents.
Dissolving power: 3-Methoxy Butanol has good dissolving power for many natural resins, nitrocellulose, benzyl cellulose, polyvinyl butyrals, aldehyde, ketone and indene resins, phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resins, carbamic acid ester resin, alkyd and maleic resins, the commonly used plasticizers and most fats and drying oils such as linseed oil, castor oil and wood oil.
3-Methoxy Butanol does not dissolve: petroleum oils, waxes, rubber, chlorinated rubber, acetyl cellulose, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, non-post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (coatings), vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride/dicarboxylic acid copolymer, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl carbazole and coumarone resin. Ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetobutyrate, polyvinyl acetates and polyvinyl isobutyl ether swell considerably in 3-Methoxy Butanol. Dammar, ester resins and post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (coatings) are partially soluble in 3 Methoxy Butanol.

Possible applications: Besides good dissolving power, 3-Methoxy Butanol – as a low-volatility solvent – has similar advantages to n-Butanol. It is used in nitrocellulose brush lacquers to improve brush ability and flow. Small additions considerably reduce the viscosity of alkyd resin and oleo resinous paints and improve their brushability. In conventional and aqueous paints, the addition of 3-Methoxy Butanol retards skinning. 3-Methoxy Butanol can be used with n-Butyl Acetate to achieve special effects in relation to dissolving power, drying time and flow. 3-Methoxy Butanol can also be used in combination with Butoxyl (3-Methoxy-n-Butylacetate).

Information provided by Celanese Corporation.