Lowvolatile

Lowvolatile is an adjective describing substances with low vapor pressure and a reduced tendency to evaporate under normal conditions. It is used across chemistry, materials science, and product formulation to distinguish materials from volatile substances that readily enter the gas phase. In practice, lowvolatile materials emit fewer vapors at room temperature, contributing to lower odor, reduced worker exposure, and fewer emissions to the environment.

Key properties include low vapor pressure, high boiling point, and often higher molecular weight compared with more volatile alternatives. These properties are typically characterized by measurements such as vapor pressure at a specified temperature, boiling point, and volatilization rate under defined conditions. Some industries define numerical thresholds to classify a material as lowvolatile.

Applications encompass coatings, paints, adhesives, sealants, and cleaning agents designed to minimize solvent loss and off-gassing. In electronics and aerospace, lowvolatile formulations help reduce outgassing in vacuum environments. In packaging and consumer products, they decrease odor and emissions while impacting processing, cure times, and cost.

The term is sometimes used interchangeably with low-VOC, but lowvolatile describes intrinsic volatility, whereas VOC refers to volatile organic compounds released under use conditions. Understanding volatility informs safety, environmental impact, and performance trade-offs when selecting formulations.

See also volatility, vapor pressure, low-VOC, solvent evaporation, outgassing.