The solvents market in paints

Estimates of European and US solvent use (in thousands of tonnes per annum (ktpa)) in the paint and resins sectors are shown in Table 8.1. One key point worthy of note is the bias towards use of ketones in the USA and towards esters in Europe. 

Chlorinated solvents are little used in the paints sector. The only application of note is in chemical paint strippers in products for both retail and domestic applications, but this is declining in some markets as chlorinates are replaced by other systems based on oxygenates such as glycol ethers and 7V-methyl pyrollidone. Total use in Europe is now thought to be less than 20 ktpa use in the USA is substantially greater, at about 80 ktpa. 

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