lacquer thinner

{{Short description|Solvents able to dissolve lacquer}}

Lacquer thinner, also known as cellulose thinner, is usually a mixture of solvents able to dissolve a number of different resins or plastics used in modern lacquer.{{cite book|author=NPCS Board of Consultants & Engineers|title=Manufacture of Thinners & Solvents (Properties, Uses, Production, Formulation with Machinery Details)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boB3DQAAQBAJ|date=9 July 2017|publisher=Niir Project Consultancy Services|isbn=978-93-81039-83-0}}

Previously, lacquer thinners frequently contained alkyl esters like butyl or amyl acetate, ketones like acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, aromatic hydrocarbons like toluene, ethers such as glycol cellosolves, and/or alcohols.{{cite web|last1=Bottens|first1=Bernie|title=What chemicals are in your lacquer thinner?|url=http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood-blogs/what_chemicals_are_in_your_lacquer_thinner_127807253.html|website=The Woodworking Network|accessdate=August 20, 2016}}

Modern lacquer thinners increasingly have to comply with low-volatile organic compounds (VOC) regulations. Often, these formulations consist mostly of acetone and other simple ketones with very small quantities of aromatic solvents.{{cite web|url=http://www.finish-pro.com/Product.170206.aspx|title=General Purpose Low VOC Lacquer Thinner, 5 Gallon|accessdate=2018-04-09}}

Paints that dry by simple solvent evaporation and contain solid binders are known as lacquers. When the solvent in lacquer paints evaporates, a solid layer remains. Since this layer can be dissolved again with the solvent, each lacquer can dissolve the one below it.{{cite web|url=https://hobbyzero.com/paints/enamel-vs-lacquer-vs-acrylic-model-paints/|title=Enamel vs Lacquer vs Acrylic Model Paints|accessdate=2022-02-25}}