Summary
When we sourcing 2-Ethylhexanoic acid (2-EH acid) for your production needs, it is important to know who your supplier is, as there is almost nothing more important than choosing the right supplier. Before making this decision, take some time to evaluate your needs. The tips listed below should help you understand your actual needs and make an informed decision. Understanding these aspects prior to the procurement process will not only enable you to smoothly align your production requirements, but also enable you to obtain a more reasonable offer.
In this post, you are going to learn exactly how to analyze and choose suppliers for 2-Ethylhexanoic acid.
This guide also includes lots of:
- Content
- Acid value
- Color
- Water content
- Purchasing from the manufacturer
- Purchasing from a dealer
- Availability and stability
So if you want to get GREAT results from a reliable supplier of 2-Ethylhexanoic acid, you`ll love this new guide.
2-Ethylhexanoic acid belongs to the family of carboxylic acids. The carboxyl (-COOH) group is responsible for its weakly acidic properties, which can easily chelate most metal ions. This weak-binding ability ensures effective participation of metal ions in a reaction; the branched-chain of the acid enables it to be grafted into the end, or with the branched-chain of the polymer, which enables modification of the polymeric material. Higher acid value and lower viscosity are suitable for the synthesis of 2-ethyl hexanoate with high metal content, which improves the selectivity of adding the amount in a reaction system. This compound has high miscibility with organic solvents and hence, choosing a suitable co-solvent, or the addition of a small amount of surfactant can disperse it in virtually any solvent, extending its versatility in a wide range of applications.
2-Ethylhexanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with a C8 carbon chain. It is the main raw material in the synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol ester, which is used in the production of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plasticizers and synthetic lubricants. Its carboxylate salt is used as a raw material in the manufacture of paint-drying agents and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilizers. In cosmetics, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid is used to make emollients. Other applications of this compound include its role as corrosion inhibitors in automotive coolants, as catalysts in polymer production, and as feedstock in the synthesis of chloric acids and aromatics.
2-Ethylhexanoic acid is commonly used in the preparation of metal derivatives (metal salts) and acts as a catalyst in polymerization reactions. For example, 2-ethyl hexanoate tin is used in the manufacture of polylactic acid. It is also frequently used in solvent extraction, dye granulation, and in the preparation of plasticizers, lubricants, detergents, flotation aids, corrosion inhibitors, and alkyd resins. Apart from these uses, 2-ethyl hexanoic serves as a catalyst in the production of polyurethane foam.
Contacting suppliers and obtaining product specifications prior to procuring the raw material can often help us understand the nature of the chemical and aid to make an informed decision by posing the right questions to the supplier.
Content of main components
The content value represents the percentage of the active ingredient in a sample. The purity of conventional 2-Ethylhexanoic acid is between 99.0% to 99.8%, which is determined using chromatography.
Acid value
The acid value indicates the level of free acid in organic compounds such as oils, polyesters, paraffin, etc. It is defined as the mg value of potassium hydroxide needed to neutralize 1g of the sample under test conditions (mg KOH/g). The acid value is determined using acid-base titration, with phenolphthalein as the indicator to determine the endpoint.
Color
The color of 2-Ethylhexanoic acid is expressed using the Pt-Co chromaticity (APHA-Hazen scale). The units for Pt-Co/APHA/Hazen chromaticity units are the same, as they are based on the same procedure, however, they are referred to differently, depending on the application. The values for dilute solutions range from 0 (light colors) to 500 (dark colors). In 1892, Dr. Hazen first described the preparation of Pt-Co standard colors in the American Chemical Abstracts, and since then, the Pt-Co color standard and Hazen units have been widely used. A similar method is described in Part 2120 of the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) standard method for documenting the results of water and wastewater inspections. Thus, the Pt-Co color scale is generally equivalent to the APHA color scale for the classification of water quality.
Moisture content
The desired moisture content of 2-Ethylhexanoic acid is usually less than 0.1%, since some downstream applications which involve grease and corrosion inhibitors are sensitive to the presence of water, as they would be in contact with metal surfaces. In high-temperature environments, 2-ethylhexanoic acid with low water content should be preferably used in order to prevent oxidation and aging of the equipment.
The factors listed above are performance indicators from a buyer`s perspective. We now analyze some factors from the viewpoint of the supplier.
Purchasing from the manufacturer
- Lower cost: It is usually cheaper to purchase products directly from a factory: This is true because there are no middlemen involved, which automatically reduces the number of intermediaries. There are significant savings in cost owing to the lack of retailers and distributors, who would otherwise need to pay the cost of their warehousing, labor, transportation, and advertising expenses. These savings can be passed on to consumers.
- Provision of technical advice: Generally speaking, manufacturers usually have a competent technical team that is well-versed with the product and can provide consumer and consultancy support pre- and post-sales. Buyers can directly provide feedback to the manufacturer, a practice that can greatly reduce the adverse impact of reports or reviews published on public platforms.
- Better protection of the goods: When ordering directly from a manufacturer, goods are less likely to suffer damage while in transit. In a scenario where intermediaries are involved, these distributors and retailers try to sell products at various prices, which entails the products being handled by more personnel, before it reaches the end consumer. Consequently, each transfer increases the likelihood of damage during shipping. Even if the product appears undamaged to the eye, it may be affected by factors such as external temperature, humidity, and light, to name a few.
- Better protection of the goods: When ordering directly from a manufacturer, goods are less likely to suffer damage while in transit. In a scenario where intermediaries are involved, these distributors and retailers try to sell products at various prices, which entails the products being handled by more personnel, before it reaches the end consumer. Consequently, each transfer increases the likelihood of damage during shipping. Even if the product appears undamaged to the eye, it may be affected by factors such as external temperature, humidity, and light, to name a few.
Purchasing from a dealer
- Support for small orders: Many companies have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirement, which may be a drawback for several start-up organizations or companies that run customized businesses in small batches. In such cases, purchasing from dealers can provide buyers small-batch support. This is possible because several dealers store their products in their own warehouses and sell them from a large inventory to a variety of smaller buyers, including individual purchasers, thus lowering the minimum purchase threshold or eliminating the need for a MOQ.
- Support for multi-category procurement: The range of products that a manufacturer can provide is limited, as opposed to dealers, who can provide a variety of products over a wide portfolio. Upon understanding the buyer`s requirements, the dealer can quote a purchase price and arrange the order to be shipped accordingly.
Availability and stability
Manufacturers typically design their production lines to be generic, i.e., a single line that is capable of producing both, 2-Ethylhexanoic acid, as well as other products. Additionally, we need to understand the difference between design capacity and the actual capacity of a line. The design capacity is a theoretical estimate of the production in a line, whereas, the actual capacity differs, and is almost always lesser than the projected design capacity. Usually, an inverse relation exists; the more product variety in a company, the lower the actual production capacity.
The term “product diversity” indicates that production parameters will frequently be changed, which could affect the production output and result in longer delivery times. In addition, more frequent equipment maintenance affects the quality and stability of the product, and also reduces the life of the equipment.
When identifying a supplier, try to choose someone who offers a smaller range of products. This could ensure the continuous production of your desired product as a result of reduced frequency of maintenance. This small step will ensure a faster and more stable supply, which is particularly important in ensuring the continuity of the supply chain.
