Xylene is a commercial mixture of three isomers: o-, m-, and p-xylene. It appears in a clear liquid which is soluble in alcohol and ether, but insoluble in water.
Xylene has a wide range of industrial applications due to its excellent solvent properties:
- Solvent: Xylene is a common solvent in paints, varnishes, lacquers and printing inks.
- Adhesives: Xylene is a component in many adhesives.
- Cleaning agents: It's used in some industrial and household cleaners for removing grease, oil, and other stubborn substances.
- Chemical intermediate: Xylene is used as a starting material for the production of other chemicals.
- Laboratory reagent: Used in laboratories for various purposes, such as cleaning glassware and preparing samples for analysis.
- Fuel additive: Xylene is sometimes added to gasoline to improve its octane rating.
- Metalworking fluids: Used in some metalworking fluids as a cutting fluid or coolant.