Improper use of M.E.K. caused an explosion and fire here in Chatsworth, CA
seven years ago in a plant adjacent to my office. The M.E.K. vapors are
heavier than air and form an invisible "cloud" near the floor in any space
that's not well (forced air) ventilated. A maintenance crew was using this
stuff for some reason, to remove adhesive residue from glued-down vinyl
tiles. Then, someone turned "on" an electric floor buffer. The spark from
the switch ignited the M.E.K. vapors and blew up the whole room. The floor
buffer operator suffered 3rd degree burns over half his body...well covered
news story. "Don't mess with Texas," and *really* don't mess with this
stuff! -WB2WIK/6
-----Original Message-----
From: HAROLD B MANDEL [mailto:ka1xo@juno.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 10:44 AM
To: rex@lint.mv.com
Cc: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Trichloroethene
M.E.K., or Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a flammable
distillate of petroleum. It is slightly less evaporative
than Acetone in free air.
It is used as a solvent thinner for some specific paint
compounds and as a cleanup for some paints and inks
that are still wet.
MEK will soften many types of plastic compounds
but not the polycarbonate family such as fouund in
safety eyewear.
Its vapors are noxious and can cause brain damage and
it has been found by the State of California to cause
cancer in rats.
It is extremely flammable, only slightly less so than
Acetone.
A valuable contact cleaner is made by combining
one-third volumes of 91% Isopropanol, MEK and
Acetone. While not caustic, the compound should be
handled while wearing gloves such as Nalgene,
but does not require a double-gloving of Nalgene
over nylon.
Hal
W4HBM
On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:17:24 -0500 "Rex Lint" <rex@lint.mv.com> writes:
>
> There was something called MEK used in the labs -
> methyl-ethyl-keytone I
> think. What's dangerous about that? Anything? What was it used
> for?
>
> K1HI
>
> Rex Lint
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
> Behalf Of Jim Kearman
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 10:41 PM
> To: Amps
> Subject: [Amps] Trichloroethene
>
> I remembered the solvent we used to clean the Motorola radios was
> trichloroethylene, commonly called trichloroethene. Pretty nasty
> stuff if
> you breathe it, especially if you intend to have kids,
> (<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroethylene>) but a great
> cleaner.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim, KR1S
> http://kr1s.kearman.com/
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
>
Harold Mandel
Superintendent of Construction
Baran Telecom Inc.
606 - 205 - 0172
hmandel@barantelecom.com
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