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.

2020032509511622gc

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

CHARACTERISTICRANGE of controlTEST Method
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3)≤0.790ASTM D-4052
Flash point ˚c≥40ASTM D- 93
Pour point ˚c≤-40ASTM D -97
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c≤2.54ASTM D- 445
Mg koh /gr≤0.02ASTM D -664
100˚c /3h cu1aASTM D- 130
Corrosive sulphur≤0.02ASTM D- 2622
Aromatic wt %10≥ASTM D -97
DISTILLATION RANGE
IBP to 760 torr ˚c136ASTM D- 86
5% to 760 torr ˚c156ASTM D- 86
30% to 760 torr˚c173ASTM D- 86
50% to 760 torr ˚c183ASTM D- 86
80% to 760 torr ˚c209ASTM D- 86
F B P  to 760 torr ˚c245ASTM D- 86

Solvent 403 CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICRANGE of controlTEST Method
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3)≤0.788ASTM D-4052
Flash point ˚c≥40ASTM D- 93
Pour point ˚c≤-45ASTM D -97
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c≤2.54ASTM D- 445
Mg koh /gr≤0.02ASTM D -664
100˚c /3h cu1aASTM D- 130
Corrosive sulphur≤0.02ASTM D- 2622
Aromatic wt %≥16ASTM D -97
DISTILLATION RANGE
IBP to 760 torr ˚c136ASTM D- 86
5% to 760 torr ˚c156ASTM D- 86
30% to 760 torr˚c173ASTM D- 86
50% to 760 torr ˚c183ASTM D- 86
80% to 760 torr ˚c209ASTM D- 86
F B P  to 760 torr ˚c245ASTM D- 86

Comparison Table of Solvent 402 & 403

ANALYSISUNITLIMITLIMITTEST METHOD
Kind of solvent403402
Distillation range°C 152-198142-198Astm  D86
Density@ 15°CKg/m3report775(min)Astm  D1298
Copper strip, 3hrs@100°c1a1aAstm  D130
Flash point,tag (min)°C 38 38 Astm  D56
Color, saybolt (min)2125 Astm  D156
Doctor testAstm  D4952
Sulphur Total (max)%wt 
  1. 2
  2. 1
Astm  D1266
Gum existent (max)mg/100ml55Astm  D381
Aromatic content%vol45 (min)20 (max)Astm  D1319

Solvent 404 CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICSUnitLimitTest Method
DENSITY @ 15°CKg/m3reportASTMD 1298
  1. B.P
°C60 minASTMD 86
10% Evaporated°C87 minASTMD 86
50% ‘‘°C82 min-108 maxASTMD 86
90% ‘‘°C101 min-119 maxASTMD 86
Dry Point°C114 min-143 maxASTMD 86
Color Saybolt25 minASTMD 156
OdourMerchantable
RecoveryVol%98 minASTMD 86
LossVol%1.0 MaxASTMD 86
Corrosion-3hrs @ 50°C1aASTMD 130
Sulphur TotalWt%0.05 maxASTMD 1266
Doctor TestnegativeASTMD 4952
Aromatic ContentVol%7 maxASTMD 1319

Solvent 406 CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICSUnitLimitTest Method
DENSITY @ 15°CKg/m3reportASTMD 1298
L.B.P°C62 minASTMD 86
10% Evaporated°C158 minASTMD 86
50% ‘‘°C63 min 71 maxASTMD 86
90% ‘‘°C64 min 74 maxASTMD 86
Dry Point°C80 maxASTMD 86
Color Saybolt25 minASTMD 156
OdourMerchantable
RecoveryVol%98 minASTMD 86
LossVol%1MaxASTMD 86
Corrosion-3 hrs @ 50°C1aASTMD 130
Sulphur TotalWt%0.05 maxASTMD 1266
Doctor TestnegativeASTMD 4952
Aromatic ContentVol%7 maxASTMD 1319

Solvent 410 CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICSRANGE of controlTEST Method
Sp. GR20˚c(kg/dm3)≤0.788ASTM D-4052
Flash point ˚c≥40ASTM D- 93
Pour point ˚c≤-45ASTM D -97
Kinematics viscosity @40˚c≤2.54ASTM D- 445
Mg koh /gr≤0.02ASTM D -664
100˚c /3h cu1aASTM D- 130
Corrosive sulphur≤0.02ASTM D- 2622
Aromatic wt %≥16ASTM D -97
DISTILLATION RANGE
IBP to 760 torr ˚c136ASTM D- 86
5% to 760 torr ˚c156ASTM D- 86
30% to 760 torr˚c173ASTM D- 86
50% to 760 torr ˚c183ASTM D- 86
80% to 760 torr ˚c209ASTM D- 86
F B P  to 760 torr ˚c245ASTM D- 86

Comparison Table of solvent 404 & 406 & 410

TEST METHODLIMITLIMITLIMITUNITANALYSIS
410    406404Kind of solvent
Astm  D8655-11362-8060-143°C Distillation range
Astm  D1289reportreportreportKg/m۳Density@ 15°C
Astm  D15625 25 25 Color, saybolt (min) 
Astm  D1301a1a1a Copper strip 3hrs@50°c 
Astm  D4952Doctor test
Astm  D1266
  1. 05
  2. 05
  3. 05
%wt SulphurTotal (max)
Astm  D1319report۷(max)report %volAromatic content

TYPES OF BITUMENS WE PROVIDE