Technical Specifications
| PARAMETER | SPECIFICATION |
|---|
| CAS Number | 100-51-6 |
| EC Number | 202-859-9 |
| Appearance | Clear Liquid |
| Odour | Faintly Aromatic |
| Assay (By GC) | ≥ 99.50 % |
| Aldehydes (By GC) | ≤ 0.15 % |
| Dibenzyl Oxide | ≤ 0.10 % |
| Moisture | ≤ 0.10 % |
| Chlorinated Compound | Passes FFC Test (Negative) |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 15 |
| Specific Gravity @ 25°C | 1.040 – 1.050 |
| Iron Content | ≤ 1 ppm |
Applications — GCC, Africa & Beyond
- Solvent and reactive diluent in epoxy curing agent formulations — used with RAYCURE hardener systems
- Solvent in paint stripper, ink, lacquers, and waterborne coatings applications across UAE and Saudi Arabia
- Chemical intermediate for pharmaceuticals, esters used in cosmetics and preservatives
- Used in flavouring and fragrance agents for manufacturing soaps, perfumes, and flavour industries in Dubai
- Pharmaceutical preservative in injectable formulations and topical products (pharmaceutical grade)
- Solvent in printing inks and packaging adhesives for UAE packaging industry
- Personal care and cosmetics — preservative at ≤ 1% per EU Cosmetics Regulation
- Hair colour formulations for professional salon use across GCC
Key Properties
- High purity ≥ 99.50% (Technical Grade)
- Very low aldehyde content — important for colour-sensitive applications
- FFC test negative for chlorinated compounds
- Low APHA colour (≤ 15) — suitable for colour-critical formulations
- Partially water-soluble — bridges aqueous and organic phases
- Flash point 93°C — combustible liquid (simpler storage than low-flash solvents)
- Boiling point 204–206°C — very low volatility, slow evaporation
- Compatible with RAYCURE epoxy hardener systems as co-solvent/reactive component
Usage & Recommendations
In epoxy systems: use at 2–5% as reactive diluent/co-solvent to reduce viscosity and extend pot-life. Compatible with RAYCURE 915, 925, 940, and 960 polyamide hardeners. As a preservative in cosmetics: use at ≤ 1.0% in compliance with UAE/GCC cosmetics regulations. For pharmaceutical use, pharmaceutical grade (BP/USP) is required — contact Raykem for pharmaceutical grade availability.
Packaging
- 230 Kgs HDPE Drums
- 215 Kgs Galvanized Metal Drums
- 1,000 Kgs IBC Tanks
- 20' ISO Tanks (~24 MT)
Storage & Shelf Life
Store in original sealed containers in a cool, ventilated area away from strong oxidising agents and acids. Flash point 93°C — not a flammable liquid (no special flammable storage required). In UAE/Saudi Arabia summer, store in shaded areas to prevent pressure build-up. Shelf life: 24 months in original sealed containers.
Need TDS or SDS Documentation?
Full Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), and Technical Data Sheet (TDS) supplied with every shipment from Dubai or Riyadh.
Email for Documents
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dual Role in Epoxy — Reactive vs Inert
Benzyl alcohol plays two distinct roles in epoxy coating systems depending on the formulation context:
As reactive plasticiser (epoxy systems)
At loadings of 5–15 phr, benzyl alcohol acts as both a diluent (reducing viscosity) and a plasticiser (improving film flexibility). Unlike true reactive diluents, it does not contain epoxide groups but participates in the cure via its hydroxyl group. Lowers Tg and improves impact resistance. Used in solvent-free floor coatings.
As solvent (coatings and inks)
High boiling point (205°C) and low vapour pressure make benzyl alcohol a slow-evaporating solvent for high-solid paints, nail coatings, and printing inks. Low odour compared to aromatic solvents. FDA-approved for indirect food contact applications in coatings.
Industrial vs Fragrance Grade
| Grade |
Purity |
Key Specs |
Application |
| Industrial / Technical | ≥ 99.0% | Colour ≤ 10 APHA, Acid value ≤ 0.1 | Epoxy, coatings, inks, adhesives |
| Fragrance / Pharma | ≥ 99.5% | Colour ≤ 5 APHA, GC purity ≥ 99.5% | Cosmetics, pharma, food flavour |
Raykem supplies industrial/technical grade benzyl alcohol (≥ 99.0%) suitable for epoxy coatings, adhesive formulation, and printing ink production. Full CoA with GC purity, APHA colour, and acid value provided on every batch.
Benzyl alcohol is used at 2–5% as a reactive solvent and viscosity reducer in epoxy curing agent formulations. It participates in the cure reaction (unlike inert solvents) and extends pot-life of polyamide and aliphatic amine hardener systems — critical in GCC summer conditions where short pot-life is a major application challenge. It is also used as a co-solvent in RAYCURE polyamide hardener dilution.
