Product Name
Quality Aerosols Mineral Spirits QUA01683 - 55 Gal
Brief Description
Quality Aerosols Mineral Spirits QUA01683 is a petroleum-derived clear liquid solvent, often referred to as white spirit or mineral turpentine. This 55-gallon bulk product is a versatile organic solvent composed primarily of aliphatic, open-chain or alicyclic C7 to C12 hydrocarbons. It is widely utilized across various industrial and commercial settings for its effectiveness as a paint thinner, cleaning agent, and degreaser.
Popular Applications & Uses
- Thinning oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, lacquers, and asphalt products.- Cleaning paint brushes, rollers, and other painting equipment.- Degreasing automotive parts, bicycle gears, tools, and industrial machinery.- Cleaning and preparing metal surfaces before painting or welding.- Removing adhesive residue, gum, and sticky substances from non-porous surfaces.- Cleaning various wood surfaces, including doors, desks, flooring, and furniture, to remove dirt, grease, paint, and scuff marks.- As a carrier fluid in lubricants and greases.- As a solvent in aerosols, wood preservatives, and some agricultural, food, personal care, construction, CASE, and pharmaceutical applications.
Industries that Commonly Use It
- Automotive Service/Repair: For degreasing engine components, brakes, and other intricate parts.- Cabinet & Woodworking: For cleaning wood surfaces and thinning oil-based finishes.- Chemical Industry: As a fundamental petroleum-derived solvent.- Construction/Building Services: Used in painting, cleaning, and with asphalt products.- Distributers & Resellers: As a bulk product supplied to various industrial and commercial clients.- Fabrication: Essential for degreasing metal surfaces prior to further processing.- General Manufacturing: For cleaning machinery, parts, and general surface preparation.- Industrial Supply: A core solvent product for industrial maintenance and operations.- Metal Fabrication: For degreasing and cleaning metal components.- Petroleum Industry, Products or Services: As it is a petroleum distillate.- Transportation/Specialty Vehicle: For maintenance and cleaning of vehicle components.
Special and Unique Features
- **Versatile Solvent:** Effective for a wide range of applications from thinning paints to heavy-duty degreasing.- **Petroleum-Derived:** A pure petroleum distillate, ensuring consistent composition for industrial use.- **Moderate Evaporation Rate:** Offers a slower evaporation rate compared to some other paint thinners, allowing for smoother application and finish when used with paints.- **Lower Odor (compared to some paint thinners):** Generally less pungent than less refined paint thinners, making it more manageable in industrial environments, especially if it's a more refined grade.- **Effective Degreaser:** Highly capable of dissolving and removing tough grease, oil, and grime without leaving residue.
Key Properties
- **Composition:** Mixture of aliphatic, open-chain or alicyclic C7 to C12 hydrocarbons, derived from petroleum.- **Appearance:** Clear liquid.- **Insolubility:** Insoluble in water.- **Flash Point:** Typically above 100°F (38°C), indicating flammability.- **Boiling Point Range:** Generally between 149°C (300°F) and 213°C (415°F).- **Density:** Approximately 0.754-0.820 g/cm³.- **Volatility:** Subdued volatility, appealing for applications desiring leisurely evaporation.- **Odor:** Characteristic kerosene-like odor, though refined versions can be low or odorless.- **Flammability:** Flammable liquid and vapor.- **Toxicity:** May cause skin and eye irritation, drowsiness or dizziness, and can be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
Surface Compatibility
- **Metals:** Excellent for cleaning and degreasing various metals, including automotive parts, tools, and industrial equipment.- **Wood:** Safe and effective for cleaning and restoring a variety of wood surfaces, including finished wood.- **Painted Surfaces (Oil-based):** Used to thin oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes. Can also clean fresh oil-based paint from surfaces.- **Non-porous Surfaces:** Effective for removing adhesive residue, gum, and scuff marks from non-porous materials.- **Plastics:** Can remove residue from plastic surfaces, but caution should be exercised as some plastics may be affected.- **Not for Water-based Paints:** Should not be used with water-based (latex) paints.- **Not for Clothing:** Should not be used directly on clothing.
Known backups / known substitutes
- **Paint Thinner (general purpose):** Often a less refined, less expensive, and stronger-smelling version of mineral spirits, sometimes with additives like benzene.- **Turpentine:** A vegetable-based solvent (distilled tree resin), stronger and thicker with a more pungent odor, but can dissolve non-alkyd resins.- **Naphtha:** Another petroleum distillate, generally faster evaporating and stronger than mineral spirits.- **Acetone:** A very strong, fast-evaporating solvent, often used for specific cleaning tasks or thinning certain coatings.- **Denatured Alcohol:** Used for cleaning surfaces and equipment, but has different physicochemical properties and applications.
Comparison Note
Mineral spirits are a specific type of paint thinner, distinguished by their composition as 100% petroleum distillates with fewer impurities and a milder odor compared to general-purpose paint thinners which may contain various solvents and additives. While both serve similar functions like thinning oil-based paints and cleaning, mineral spirits are generally more refined, offer a slower evaporation rate for a smoother finish, and are often preferred for indoor use due to lower fumes. However, pure mineral spirits can be more expensive than less refined paint thinners.
