Application areas: A large part of the N-BUTANOL produced is converted into derivatives (primarily esters) for use as solvents in the coatings industry. N-BUTANOL is an eminently suitable solvent for acid-curable lacquers and baking finishes derived from urea, melamine, or phenolic resins.

Some butyl esters of dicarboxylic acids, phthalic anhydride, and acrylic acid are established plasticizers for plastics, rubber mixes, and dispersions. The most important are dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and butyl acrylate. Dibutyl sebacate (DBS) and dibutylazelate (DBZ) are of subordinate importance. The corresponding adipate is too volatile to be a plasticizer and is therefore of no practical significance in these applications.

The applications in which normal butanol can be used are solvent for dyes, e.g. in printing inks; extractant in the production of drugs and natural substances such as antibiotics, hormones, vitamins, alkaloids and camphor; additive in polishes and cleaners, e.g.floor cleaners and stain removers; solubilizer in the textile industry, e.g. additive in spinning baths or carrier for coloring plastics; additive in deicing fluids; gasoline additive (antiicing);