Described is a class of symmetrical and asymmetrical N-alkyl lactam ethers. One preferred ether is bis-N-ethyl pyrrolidone ether. Preferred compositions and uses of the ethers are in performance chemicals, personal care, and pharmaceutical fields, where they function a variety of roles, including as a solvent, solubilizer, freezing point depressor, diluent, extracting agent, cleaning agent, degreaser, absorbent and/or dispersion agent. ##STR00001##

Abrasive paint remover compositions including a solvent system or composition and an abrasive system or composition and methods for making and using same, where the compositions may be formulated with no methylene chloride (MC).

Abrasive paint remover compositions including a solvent system or composition and an abrasive system or composition and methods for making and using same, where the compositions include no methylene chloride (MC).

A release solvent composition for releasing a thermosetting resin coating film coated on a thermoplastic resin molded article, and the release solvent composition containing 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane and aromatic alcohols and having no flash point.

A solvent composition for solvent-based paints or other similar coatings which comprises a combination of dimethyl glutarate and of at least one other compound chosen from a group which includes isobutyl acetate, ethyl lactate, dimethyl 2-methylglutarate, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, cyclopentyl methyl ether, diethoxymethane, dimethyl carbonate, dimethyl succinate, benzyl alcohol, dimethyl adipate or glycerol triacetate. Also a method of cleaning with such a solvent composition.

A composition suitable for cleaning hard surfaces comprising a natural oil solvent and a natural oil thickener is provided.

A method for recovering polymer from printed glycol-modified poly(ethylene tefephtalate) (PETG) substrates, comprising the steps of: providing a printed PETG substrate with the print layer comprising pigments and/or dyes dispersed in a binder matrix; chopping the substrate into irregular strips and; treating the chopped substrate with a treating composition; wherein the treating composition is an aqueous azeotrope of an organic low molecular weight, polar solvent selected from the group consisting of ketones, aldehydes, alcohols and esters.

A composition includes a first solvent selected from methyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate, acetone, or a combination thereof, a second solvent selected from thiophene, 1,3-dioxolane, thioacetic acid, or a combination thereof, and, optionally, a third solvent selected from dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl glyoxal, propylene carbonate, gamma butyrolactone, ethylene carbonate, 2-chloro-1-propanol, methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, or a combination thereof. The respective amounts of each solvent are further described herein, and the total amounts of the first solvent, the second solvent, and the third solvent sum to at least 90 volume percent of the total volume of the composition. The composition can be particularly useful for removal of a coating from a surface. Accordingly, a method of removing a coating from a surface is also disclosed.

An aqueous composition for cleaning surfaces, for removing coatings from surfaces, or for plasticizing or softening coatings or other surface-adhered materials prior to stripping or mechanical removal thereof from the surface, comprises a trialkyi or triaryl phosphate, a dibasic or tribasic carboxylic acid ester, and greater than 80% by weight of water. The composition is useful in removing grease, waxes, oil, resins, tar, ink, magic marker ink, paint (including spray-paint), varnish, lacquer, stains (including wood staining compositions applied to a wooden surface), dirt, mold or foodstuffs from surfaces.

Provided is cleaning solution used for cleaning ink containing water and resin, cleaning solution containing water and solvent. Solvent contains glycol ether compound represented by general formula 1. Ink film obtained by drying the ink has swelling ratio of 20 percent or higher but 150 percent or lower, where swelling ratio is calculated by mathematical formula 1 based on masses of ink film before/after immersed in cleaning solution at 25 degrees C. for 24 hours,
R.sup.1(OR.sup.2).sub.XOR.sup.3General formula 1 In general formula 1, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represent hydrogen atom or alkyl group including from 1 through 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents alkyl group including from 2 through 3 carbon atoms, and X represents integer of from 1 through 4,
Swelling ratio(%)=100[(BA)/A]Mathematical formula 1 In mathematical formula 1, A represents mass of ink film before immersed, and B represents mass of ink film after immersed.