NMP, 1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone | Lab Alley
About 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)
1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, more commonly known as N-methylpyrrolidone or NMP, is a lactam, i.e., a cyclic amide that includes the group H2NC=O as part of a ring structure.
At room temperature it is a colorless liquid. Like many amides it has an odor that is sometimes described as ‘fish-like’. It is more dense than water, though it is miscible with water, as it is with several organic solvents.
The main use of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is as a general solvent. It is a polar, aprotic solvent, meaning that it is polar (charged) but lacks the presence of a proton (H+). In this role it can be found as part of a number of industrial and household products such as paint strippers and cleaners to remove adhesive residue.
In industrial settings, it is used as a cleaner (degreasing and paint stripping), in battery manufacture, and in the polymer and plastics business during the manufacture of polyamides, epoxys, and polyurethane coatings.
Common uses of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)
- General solvent
- Cleaner
- Paint stripper
- Polymer manufacture
Industries
- Petrochemical (in particular in the polymer sector)
- Battery
- Paints & Coatings
- Electronics