Methylethyl ketone oxime
Encyclopedia
Methylethyl ketone oxime is the organic compound
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...

 with the formula C2H5C(NOH)CH3. This colourless liquid is the oxime
Oxime
An oxime is a chemical compound belonging to the imines, with the general formula R1R2C=NOH, where R1 is an organic side chain and R2 may be hydrogen, forming an aldoxime, or another organic group, forming a ketoxime. O-substituted oximes form a closely related family of compounds...

 derivative of methyl ethyl ketone. MEKO, as it is called in the paint industry, is used to suppress "skinning" of paints: the formation of a skin on paint before it is used. MEKO functions by binding the drying agent
Drying agent
The term drying agent has different meanings:* Desiccant for materials that absorb moisture and water* Oil drying agents for compounds that speed up the hardening of oils, often used in painting...

s, metal salts that catalyze the oxidative crosslinking of drying oil
Drying oil
A drying oil is an oil that hardens to a tough, solid film after a period of exposure to air. The oil hardens through a chemical reaction in which the components crosslink by the action of oxygen . Drying oils are a key component of oil paint and some varnishes...

s. Once the paint is applied to a surface, MEKO evaporates, thereby allowing the drying process to proceed. Other antiskinning agents have been used, including phenol-based antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...

s, but these tend to yellow the paint.
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