Mineral Spirits

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.

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white Spirit Applications

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. They can be used as a solvent to erase mistakes made while painting.
  4. 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.
  5. It can be used to clean paint brushes, especially those used in heavy oils and paints.
  6. 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.
  7. You can use white spirit on linoleum tiles to get rid of skid marks and scratches.
  8. Use white spirit to dissolve gum and other sticky resins, that are stuck to carpets or clothing.
  9. When combined with cutting oil, they are used as a lubricant for cutting threads.
  10. 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.
  11. Used to dissolve oils and grease in laundry stains.
  12. Often used inside liquid-filled compasses and gauges.
  13. Can be used as an alternative to kerosene in portable stoves, since it is merely a light grade of kerosene.
  14. 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 
  1. 2
  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
  1. 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
  1. 05
  2. 05
  3. 05
%wt  SulphurTotal (max)
Astm  D1319 report ۷(max) report  %vol Aromatic content

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