What is 99% Isopropyl Alcohol Used For?
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is an essential compound that comes in many options and is used for a variety of applications ranging from industrial to medical. It’s offered in various grades and dilution levels, it does not leave residue behind, and evaporates quickly. IPA is also safe to use on a variety of surfaces including plastics. Often, IPA is mixed with deionized water (DI Water), ranging from 1% to 99%.
For this article, we’ll focus on 99% IPA and how it’s used in industries all over the world.
- Industrial Cleaner – 99% IPA is an aggressive cleaning solvent, perfect for a variety of industrial applications. It is suitable for removing inks, permanent marker, stickers/adhesives, stains, grease, and grime. It’s used for wiping down and scrubbing various surfaces and equipment such as machinery, work benches, windows, parts, and components.
- Pre-Fusion Pipe Cleaning – Wipes saturated with 99% isopropyl alcohol are popular for cleaning the fusion zone prior to electrofusion welding. They are ideal for removing debris, dirt, oxides, and other contaminants from HDPE pipes. High levels of IPA are fast drying / evaporate quickly, making it suitable for this process.
- Coating – Isopropyl alcohol plays a major role in coating different products all around the world. This is most commonly in the form of 99% IPA. 99% IPA can help produce and disperse various polymers. It also serves as a diluent for resins and paints. A number of intermediates can be made from it, including acetone and glycerol. It’s also used to coat and keep windows frost-free as a thawing agent.
- Cleaning Electronics – Due to its fast-drying properties, highly concentrated isopropyl alcohol is a "must-have" for cleaning electronics. It can be used to safely clean and degrease things like cables, keypads, LCDs, fiber optics, and much more. The move to an increasingly digital world has made this compound one of the more important cleaning chemicals used. And it also plays a vital role in the modern manufacturing of semiconductors.
- Pharmaceutical Applications – Isopropyl alcohol is one of the go-to laboratory chemicals because it is used to manufacture medicines. It is also used to decontaminate reactors and to make, purify, and analyze various compounds. This compound is also at the heart of running different lab analyses and is needed to synthesize amino acids and polypeptides.
- Automotive Applications – 99% isopropyl alcohol has many uses in the automotive industry. It’s commonly used in manufacturing and repair for surface preparation before painting. It’s great for removing paint, ink, grime, and adhesives. Detailers also use it to strip wax before painting or polishing. It’s often used in windshield washes to help solubilize the water.
- Molecular Biology – The 99% dilution level of IPA helps researchers prepare samples for molecular reactions, including nucleotide sequencing. It also concentrates and purifies DNA samples—making it invaluable in molecular biology.
- Medical Applications – In the medical community, 99% IPA is essential for cleaning surfaces and sterilizing equipment. It’s preferred for applications that require quick evaporation with no residue, and can be applied directly to skin if it’s medical-grade.
- Personal Care – IPA is widely used in personal care products including bath items, lotions, cosmetics, and hand sanitizers. It’s particularly helpful in nail polish formulations and nail cleaning.
Choosing the Correct Level of IPA
Here at Blue Thunder Technologies, we have solvents and chemicals for just about any application including those mentioned above. To see how we can offer a customized solution for your specific needs, contact us today.
