Alcohols are widely used as part of a solvent blend for lacquers and lacquer thinners. Alcohols, especially Butyl Cellosolve and Butyl Carbitol are water miscible and are used as cosolvents in water-based coatings. Cosolvents are critical in maintaining solubility and stability as well as film formation of water-based coatings. They are polar and non-photochemically reactive.
Alcohols must never be used with two-component polyurethanes because the OH group of the alcohol reacts with the NCO group of the polyurethane and neutralizes the chemical reaction.

Alcohols include:
• Methanol R6K1
• HAPS Complying Dye Stain Reducer
• Isopropanol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
• Secondary Butanol R6K19
• N-Butanol and Isobutanol
• Diacetone Alcohol R6K24 Butyl Cellosolve R6K25
• Butyl Carbitol
• PM Reducer R6K34
• Texanol® Ester Alcohol R6K33

Methanol R6K1 is extremely fast evaporating. Poisonous. Primary use is for dye stains. It is not HAPS compliant.
HAPS Complying Dye Stain Reducer R6K21 is a special ethyl alcohol (ethanol) blend intended for diluting S61 HAPS complying dye stains to maintain HAPS compliance. It is more expensive than methanol. Generally ethanol is denatured by using small quantities of methanol but this makes it non-HAPS compliant. R6K21 uses a different compound.

Isopropanol (Isopropyl Alcohol) - no sales rex - is slightly slower evaporation than ethanol. It is HAPS compliant.
Secondary Butanol R6K19 may be used as a reducer (up to 10% reduction) in KEM AQUA 70P W/R Metal Primer and other W/R alkyds for slightly faster dry to handle. It helps the water to evaporate, helps apply thinner film for faster dry, will raise VOC and may give a flash point to the paint which will affect storage, packaging and safety. It is HAPS compliant.

N-Butanol and Isobutanol - no sales rexes - are similar alcohols often used for increasing conductivity in baking enamels.

Diacetone Alcohol R6K24 is a slow evaporating solvent recommended for use in SHER-WOOD S64 Wiping Stains because it opens up wood pores and gives better penetration and more color depth in solvent-based wiping stains. It is HAPS compliant but photochemically reactive.

Butyl Cellosolve R6K25 is the most widely used cosolvent for Chemical Coatings Water Reducible Enamels. It is a very slow evaporating glycol ether with complete miscibility in water. Butyl Cellosolve is also a very effective retarder for nitrocellulose lacquers to eliminate blushing when used at a level of 1-2%. Butyl Cellosolve is a trademark of Union Carbide and is known by many different names depending on supplier. Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether and 2-Butoxyethanol are chemical names that appear on data sheets and MSDS sheets. It is not HAPS compliant.
Butyl Carbitol R6K28 is a very, very slow glycol ether used as a cosolvent and coalescing solvent in water reducible coatings. It is a totally water miscible glycol ether. It is used in small quantities in water reducible coatings to improve flow and eliminate mudcracking. Butyl Carbitol is a trademark of Union Carbide. It is also known as Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether or 2-Butoxy Ethoxy Ethanol on the MSDS sheet and data sheet. Butyl Carbitol may not be compatible with some latex coatings. It may cause kickout or increased viscosity. Test in a small way before adding to latex coatings. It is not HAPS compliant.
PM Reducer R6K34 is a Glycol Ether, HAPS compliant solvent used in Universal Dye Concentrates. PM Reducer may also be used as a medium speed retarder for lacquers and catalyzed coatings up to 10% by volume.
Texanol® Ester Alcohol R6K33 is an extremely slow evaporating cosolvent and coalescing solvent for water reducible coatings. Its use should be restricted to 1-2% to improve flow and leveling, air release and other surface imperfections. Texanol is a trademark of Eastman Chemical. It is HAPS compliant.