Information on substances

In Swedish

Some isothiazolines  (Rev. 2007)

1,2-Benzisothiazoline-3-one | 5-chloro-2-methylisotiazoline-3-one
2-Methyl-4-isotiazoline-3-one | Octylisotiazoline-3-one

Isothiazolines are used as preservatives in the paint industry, where they serve to protect the product from fungal and mould attacks. One of the more common products of this kind used to be Kathon®, a 1.5%-aqueous solution consisting of 1 part methylisothiazolinone (CAS No 2682-20-4), and 3 parts of chloromethylisothiazolinone (CAS No 26172-55-4). This mixture can also be identified with a specific CAS No, 55965-84-9. To avoid risk of allergy the much weaker 1,2-benzisothiazolinone (commonly called BIT) is used. This is above all used as a preservative in latex paints.

These substances are used in paint, adhesives, jointing compounds, cutting fluids and detergents. Paint, adhesive and detergents are products sold for both professional and consumer use. 

Octylisothiazolinone is also used almost exclusively as a preservative in latex paints, but a small proportion is also used as a preservative in the leather and fur industries.

Isothiazolines are also used as slime control agents in the pulp industry and as wood impregnating agents. 
Low concentrations, mostly <<0.01 %, of isothiazolines are present in a large number of products, which means that the volumes reported are averages with a wide interval.

Concentrations are often given as maximum values, which compounds the uncertainty regarding these volumes. 

These substances are not manufactured in Sweden but are imported, either as raw materials or as components of chemical products. 

Contact person: Margareta Östman,  Tel +468 519 411 62
Swedish Chemicals Agency Box 2 SE-172 13 Sundbyberg, kemi@kemi.se
Tel +468 519 411 00 Fax +468 735 7698