Mineral Spirits Definition
Mineral Spirits is a petroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organic solvent in painting. A mixture of aliphatic, open-chain or alicyclic C7 to C12 hydrocarbons. The word “mineral” in “mineral spirits” or “mineral turpentine” is meant to distinguish it from distilled spirits (distilled directly from fermented grains and fruit) or from true turpentine (distilled tree resin). Mineral spirits are an inexpensive petroleum-based replacement for the vegetable-based turpentine. Odorless mineral spirits are mineral spirits that have been further refined to remove the more toxic aromatic compounds, and are recommended for applications such as oil painting, where humans have close contact with the solvent.
Mineral Spirits is also well known as White spirit(UK), mineral turpentine (AU/NZ), turpentine substitute, petroleum spirits, solvent naphtha (petroleum), Varsol, Stoddard solvent.

white Spirit Applications
- Mineral spirits is a very powerful degreasing and cleansing agent for automobile and machinery part cleaning. The spirit eats away at oil and chemical grease and washes the part clean.
- Such spirits are even used to wash away dirt and grime from metallic objects and tools. Even dried paint, which accumulates on metal and thickens, can be dissolved and then washed off, on applying white spirit. This helps preserve the look and quality of the object, as opposed to scratching off the paint.
- They can be used as a solvent to erase mistakes made while painting.
- Wooden furniture which has been coated with a layer of lacquer, shellac or varnish, can be cleaned and polished with a small amount of mineral spirits. But first a small area of the furniture should be tested before complete use.
- It can be used to clean paint brushes, especially those used in heavy oils and paints.
- If sticky tape and price tags on glassware need to be removed, then dip a small ball of cotton in some mineral spirit and wipe off the sticker. Then rinse away the spirit.
- You can use white spirit on linoleum tiles to get rid of skid marks and scratches.
- Use white spirit to dissolve gum and other sticky resins, that are stuck to carpets or clothing.
- When combined with cutting oil, they are used as a lubricant for cutting threads.
- A Substitute for Turpentine (More Info) Painters and artists use solvents like turpentine, to thin out or dilute the thickness of paint, so it can be painted on canvas or surfaces easily. But turpentine has a very noxious odor and can cause breathing problems and nausea if inhaled repeatedly. Plus, turpentine is highly flammable and a potentially hazardous substance to have in an art studio. So a less harmful substance, which is not so toxic and less flammable, is white spirit or white spirit. It has the desired thinning effect and its odor is not so noxious. For those disturbed by a lingering chemical smell, white spirit come in odorless form, where the solvent is treated, such that it has no smell. As a paint thinner, it costs even less than turpentine.
- Used to dissolve oils and grease in laundry stains.
- Often used inside liquid-filled compasses and gauges.
- Can be used as an alternative to kerosene in portable stoves, since it is merely a light grade of kerosene.
- A major ingredient in some popular automotive fuel/oil additives.
There are types of mineral Spirits differ by their Characteristics like Low Aromatic White Spirit (LAWS or Solvent 402), high Aromatic White Spirit (HAWS or Solvent 403), Solvent 404, Solvent 406, Solvent 410
Solvent 402 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTIC | RANGE of control | TEST Method |
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3) | ≤0.790 | ASTM D-4052 |
Flash point ˚c | ≥40 | ASTM D- 93 |
Pour point ˚c | ≤-40 | ASTM D -97 |
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c | ≤2.54 | ASTM D- 445 |
Mg koh /gr | ≤0.02 | ASTM D -664 |
100˚c /3h cu | 1a | ASTM D- 130 |
Corrosive sulphur | ≤0.02 | ASTM D- 2622 |
Aromatic wt % | 10≥ | ASTM D -97 |
DISTILLATION RANGE |
IBP to 760 torr ˚c | 136 | ASTM D- 86 |
5% to 760 torr ˚c | 156 | ASTM D- 86 |
30% to 760 torr˚c | 173 | ASTM D- 86 |
50% to 760 torr ˚c | 183 | ASTM D- 86 |
80% to 760 torr ˚c | 209 | ASTM D- 86 |
F B P to 760 torr ˚c | 245 | ASTM D- 86 |
Solvent 403 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTIC | RANGE of control | TEST Method |
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3) | ≤0.788 | ASTM D-4052 |
Flash point ˚c | ≥40 | ASTM D- 93 |
Pour point ˚c | ≤-45 | ASTM D -97 |
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c | ≤2.54 | ASTM D- 445 |
Mg koh /gr | ≤0.02 | ASTM D -664 |
100˚c /3h cu | 1a | ASTM D- 130 |
Corrosive sulphur | ≤0.02 | ASTM D- 2622 |
Aromatic wt % | ≥16 | ASTM D -97 |
DISTILLATION RANGE |
IBP to 760 torr ˚c | 136 | ASTM D- 86 |
5% to 760 torr ˚c | 156 | ASTM D- 86 |
30% to 760 torr˚c | 173 | ASTM D- 86 |
50% to 760 torr ˚c | 183 | ASTM D- 86 |
80% to 760 torr ˚c | 209 | ASTM D- 86 |
F B P to 760 torr ˚c | 245 | ASTM D- 86 |
Comparison Table of Solvent 402 & 403
ANALYSIS | UNIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | TEST METHOD |
Kind of solvent | – | 403 | 402 | – |
Distillation range | °C | 152-198 | 142-198 | Astm D86 |
Density@ 15°C | Kg/m3 | report | 775(min) | Astm D1298 |
Copper strip, 3hrs@100°c | – | 1a | 1a | Astm D130 |
Flash point,tag (min) | °C | 38 | 38 | Astm D56 |
Color, saybolt (min) | – | 21 | 25 | Astm D156 |
Doctor test | – | | | Astm D4952 |
Sulphur Total (max) | %wt | - 2
- 1
| | Astm D1266 |
Gum existent (max) | mg/100ml | 5 | 5 | Astm D381 |
Aromatic content | %vol | 45 (min) | 20 (max) | Astm D1319 |
Solvent 404 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS | Unit | Limit | Test Method |
DENSITY @ 15°C | Kg/m3 | report | ASTMD 1298 |
- B.P
| °C | 60 min | ASTMD 86 |
10% Evaporated | °C | 87 min | ASTMD 86 |
50% ‘‘ | °C | 82 min-108 max | ASTMD 86 |
90% ‘‘ | °C | 101 min-119 max | ASTMD 86 |
Dry Point | °C | 114 min-143 max | ASTMD 86 |
Color Saybolt | – | 25 min | ASTMD 156 |
Odour | – | Merchantable | – |
Recovery | Vol% | 98 min | ASTMD 86 |
Loss | Vol% | 1.0 Max | ASTMD 86 |
Corrosion-3hrs @ 50°C | – | 1a | ASTMD 130 |
Sulphur Total | Wt% | 0.05 max | ASTMD 1266 |
Doctor Test | – | negative | ASTMD 4952 |
Aromatic Content | Vol% | 7 max | ASTMD 1319 |
Solvent 406 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS | Unit | Limit | Test Method |
DENSITY @ 15°C | Kg/m3 | report | ASTMD 1298 |
L.B.P | °C | 62 min | ASTMD 86 |
10% Evaporated | °C | 158 min | ASTMD 86 |
50% ‘‘ | °C | 63 min 71 max | ASTMD 86 |
90% ‘‘ | °C | 64 min 74 max | ASTMD 86 |
Dry Point | °C | 80 max | ASTMD 86 |
Color Saybolt | – | 25 min | ASTMD 156 |
Odour | – | Merchantable | – |
Recovery | Vol% | 98 min | ASTMD 86 |
Loss | Vol% | 1Max | ASTMD 86 |
Corrosion-3 hrs @ 50°C | – | 1a | ASTMD 130 |
Sulphur Total | Wt% | 0.05 max | ASTMD 1266 |
Doctor Test | – | negative | ASTMD 4952 |
Aromatic Content | Vol% | 7 max | ASTMD 1319 |
Solvent 410 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS | RANGE of control | TEST Method |
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3) | ≤0.788 | ASTM D-4052 |
Flash point ˚c | ≥40 | ASTM D- 93 |
Pour point ˚c | ≤-45 | ASTM D -97 |
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c | ≤2.54 | ASTM D- 445 |
Mg koh /gr | ≤0.02 | ASTM D -664 |
100˚c /3h cu | 1a | ASTM D- 130 |
Corrosive sulphur | ≤0.02 | ASTM D- 2622 |
Aromatic wt % | ≥16 | ASTM D -97 |
DISTILLATION RANGE |
IBP to 760 torr ˚c | 136 | ASTM D- 86 |
5% to 760 torr ˚c | 156 | ASTM D- 86 |
30% to 760 torr˚c | 173 | ASTM D- 86 |
50% to 760 torr ˚c | 183 | ASTM D- 86 |
80% to 760 torr ˚c | 209 | ASTM D- 86 |
F B P to 760 torr ˚c | 245 | ASTM D- 86 |
Comparison Table of solvent 404 & 406 & 410
TEST METHOD | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | UNIT | ANALYSIS |
– | 410 | 406 | 404 | – | Kind of solvent |
Astm D86 | 55-113 | 62-80 | 60-143 | °C | Distillation range |
Astm D1289 | report | report | report | Kg/m۳ | Density@ 15°C |
Astm D156 | 25 | 25 | 25 | – | Color, saybolt (min) |
Astm D130 | 1a | 1a | 1a | Copper strip 3hrs@50°c |
Astm D4952 | | | | – | Doctor test |
Astm D1266 | - 05
- 05
- 05
| | | %wt | SulphurTotal (max) |
Astm D1319 | report | ۷(max) | report | %vol | Aromatic content |