White spirit (AU, UK and Ireland)[note 1] ormineral spirits (US, Canada), also known asmineral turpentine (AU/NZ/ZA),turpentine substitute, andpetroleum spirits, is apetroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organicsolvent in painting.[1] There are also terms for specific kinds of white spirit, includingStoddard solvent andsolvent naphtha (petroleum). White spirit is often used as apaint thinner, or as a component thereof, though paint thinner is a broader category of solvent.Odorless mineral spirits (OMS) have been refined to remove the more toxicaromatic compounds, and are recommended for applications such asoil painting.
A mixture ofaliphatic,open-chain oralicyclic C7 to C12hydrocarbons, white spirit is insoluble in water and is used as anextraction solvent, as a cleaning solvent, as a degreasing solvent and as a solvent inaerosols,paints,wood preservatives,lacquers,varnishes, andasphalt products. In western Europe about 60% of the total white spirit consumption is used in paints, lacquers and varnishes.[1] White spirit is the most widely used solvent in the paint industry. In households, white spirit is commonly used to clean paint brushes after use, to clean auto parts and tools, as astarting fluid for charcoal grills, to remove adhesive residue from non-porous surfaces, and many other common tasks.
The word "mineral" in "mineral spirits" or "mineral turpentine" is meant to distinguish it fromdistilled spirits (alcoholic beverages distilled from fermented biological material) or from trueturpentine (distilled tree resin, composed mostly ofpinene).
Three different types and three different grades of white spirit exist. Thetype refers to whether the solvent has been subjected tohydrodesulfurization (removal of sulfur) alone (type 1), solvent extraction (type 2) orhydrogenation (type 3).[2]
Each type comprises three grades: low flash grade, regular grade, and high flash grade (flash refers toflash point). The grade is determined by thecrude oil used as the starting material and the conditions of distillation.[2]
In addition there is type 0, which is defined as distillation fraction with no further treatment, consisting predominantly of saturated C9 to C12 hydrocarbons with a boiling range of 140–200 °C (284–392 °F).[3]
Stoddard solvent is a specific mixture of hydrocarbons, typically over 65% C10 or higher hydrocarbons,[4] developed in 1924 by Atlantadry cleaner W. J. Stoddard and Lloyd E. Jackson of theMellon Institute of Industrial Research as a less flammable petroleum-based dry cleaning solvent than the petroleum solvents then in use.[5][6] Dry cleaners began using the result of their work in 1928 and it soon became the predominant dry cleaning solvent in the United States, until the late 1950s.[7]
Turpentine substitute is generally not made to a standard and can have a wider range of components than products marketed as white spirit, which is made to a standard (in the UK,British Standard BS 245, in Germany,DIN 51632). Turpentine substitute can be used for general cleaning but is not recommended for paint thinning as it may adversely affect drying times due to the less volatile components; while it may be used for brush cleaning its heavier components may leave an oily residue.
| CAS | EINECS | Name | Descriptive name | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8030-30-6 | 232-443-2 | Naphtha | ||
| 8052-41-3 | 232-489-3 | Stoddard solvent | Stoddard solvent is a North American term corresponding to white spirit type 1 | [3] |
| 64742-88-7 | 265-191-7 | white spirit type 0 | medium aliphatic solvent naphtha (petroleum) | [3] |
| 64742-82-1 | 265-185-4 | white spirit type 1 | hydrodesulphurized heavy naphtha (petroleum) | [3] |
| 64741-92-0 | 265-095-5 | white spirit type 2 | solvent-refined heavy naphtha (petroleum) | [3] |
| 64742-48-9 | 265-150-3 | white spirit type 3 | hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum) | [3] |
Type 1 white spirit is mainly used in most of Europe and Stoddard solvent is used in the US, both of which correspond to each other.[3]
| Property | T1: Low flash | T2: Regular | T3: High flash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initialboiling point (IBP) | 130–144 °C (266–291 °F) | 145–174 °C (293–345 °F) | 175–200 °C (347–392 °F) |
| Final boiling point | IBP+21 °C (70 °F), max. 220 °C (428 °F) | ||
| Average relativemolecular mass | 140 | 150 | 160 |
| Relative density 15 °C (59 °F) | 0.765 | 0.780 | 0.795 |
| Flash point | 21–30 °C (70–86 °F) | 31–54 °C (88–129 °F) | > 55 °C (131 °F) |
| Vapour pressure kPa at 20 °C (68 °F) | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| Volatilityn-butyl acetate = 1 | 0.47 | 0.15 | 0.04 |
| Autoignition temperature | 240 °C (464 °F) | 240 °C (464 °F) | 230 °C (446 °F) |
| Explosion limits (Flammable Range) % by volume in air | 0.6–6.5 | 0.6–6.5 | 0.6–8 |
| Vapour density air=1 | 4.5–5 | 4.5–5 | 4.5–5 |
| Refractive index at 20 °C (68 °F) | 1.41–1.44 | 1.41–1.44 | 1.41–1.44 |
| Viscosity cps, 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.74–1.65 | 0.74–1.65 | 0.74–1.65 |
| Solubility % by weight in water | < 0.1 | < 0.1 | < 0.1 |
| Kauri-butanol value | 29–33 | 29–33 | 29–33 |
| Aniline point | 60–75 °C (140–167 °F) | 60–75 °C (140–167 °F) | 60–75 °C (140–167 °F) |
| Reactivity | reaction with strong oxidizing agents | ||
| Odor threshold mg/m3 | — | 0.5–6 | 4 |
In industry, white spirit is used for cleaning anddegreasing machine tools and parts, and in conjunction withcutting oil as athread cutting andreaminglubricant.
White spirit is commonly used for cutting fluid in ultraprecision lathes (commonly referred to asdiamond turning machines).[citation needed]
White spirit is used for regripping golf clubs. After the old grip is removed, the white spirit is poured into the new grip and shaken. After the white spirit is poured on, the new underlying tape and the new grip are slid on. After an hour of drying out, the new grip and club are ready to use.[citation needed]
White spirit is apetroleum distillate used as apaint thinner and mildsolvent.
White spirit is an inexpensivepetroleum-based replacement for thevegetable-basedturpentine. It is commonly used as a paint thinner for oil-basedpaint and cleaning brushes, and as anorganic solvent in other applications. Mineral turpentine is chemically very different from turpentine, which mainly consists ofpinene, and it has inferior solvent properties.[8][failed verification] Artists use white spirit as an alternative to turpentine since it is less flammable and less toxic. Because of interactions with pigments inoil paints, artists require a higher grade of white spirit than many industrial users, including the complete absence of residual sulfur.
White spirit was formerly an active ingredient in the laundry soapFels Naptha, used to dissolve oils and grease in laundry stains, and as a popular remedy for eliminating the irritant oilurushiol inpoison ivy. It was removed as a potential health risk.
White spirit has a characteristic unpleasantkerosene-like odor. Chemical manufacturers have developed a low odor version of mineral turpentine which contains less of the highly volatile shorter hydrocarbons.[9] Odorless mineral spirits is white spirit that has been further refined to remove the more toxicaromatic compounds, and is recommended for applications such as oil painting, where humans have close contact with the solvent.
Inscreen printing (also referred to as silk-screening), white spirit is often used to clean and unclog screens after printing with oil-based textile andplastisol inks. It is also used to thin inks used in makingmonoprints.
White spirit is often used insideliquid-filled compasses andgauges.[10]
White spirits are a major ingredient in some popular automotive fuel/oil additives, such asMarvel Mystery Oil, as they are capable of dissolving varnish and sludge buildup.[11]
Although white spirit is sometimes used as an alternative to camp fuel, such askerosene or paraffin, in portablelanterns andcamp stoves[citation needed], this is highly inadvisable as typical grades of white spirit have a lower flash point than kerosene. It cannot be used as an alternative toColeman camp fuel or white gas, which is a much more volatile gasoline-like fuel.
White spirit is mainly classed as anirritant. It has a fairly low acute toxicity by inhalation of the vapour, dermal (touching the skin) and oral (ingestion) routes. However, acute exposure can lead tocentral nervous system depression resulting in lack of coordination and slowed reactions. Exposure to very high concentrations in enclosed spaces can lead to generalnarcotic effects (drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, etc.) and can eventually lead to unconsciousness. Oral ingestion presents a highaspiration hazard. Prolonged or repeated skin exposure over a long period of time can result in severe irritantdermatitis, also calledcontact dermatitis.[2]
Continuous exposure to an average white spirit concentration of 240 mg/m3 (40 ppm) for more than 13 years can lead to chroniccentral nervous system effects. Similar long-term studies have been made in which some of the observed effects includedmemory impairment, poor concentration, increasedirritability etc. White spirit is implicated in the development ofchronic toxic encephalopathy (CTE) among house painters. In severe cases CTE may lead to disability and personality changes.[2][3] These effects in painters were first studied in the 1970s in the Nordic countries.[3]
Owing to the volatility and lowbioavailability of its constituents, white spirit, although it is moderately toxic to aquatic organisms, is unlikely to present significant hazards to the environment. It should not however, be purposely poured down the sink or freshwater drain.[2]
People can be exposed to Stoddard solvent in the workplace by breathing it in, swallowing it, skin contact, and eye contact. TheOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for Stoddard solvent exposure in the workplace as 500 ppm (2900 mg/m3) over an 8-hour workday. TheNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set arecommended exposure limit (REL) of 350 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday and 1800 mg/m3 over 15 minutes. At levels of 20,000 mg/m3, Stoddard solvent isimmediately dangerous to life and health.[12]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)