Creosote oil (coal tar)
Description
A brownish oil with a phenolic odor obtained from the distillation of coal tar. Creosote contains cresol and other phenolic compounds with approximately 12 to 14% anthracene. Prior to World War I, anthraquinone dyestuffs were prepared from the anthracene in creosote. Creosote has also been used as an insecticide, fungicide, biocide, and disinfectant. It is a common wood preservative for railroad ties, telephone poles, marine pilings, and shingles.
Synonyms and Related Terms
creosota (Esp.); créosote (Fr.); creosote oil; liquid pitch oil; tar oil; dead oil of coal tar; heavy oil; anthracene oil
Other Properties
Soluble in ethanol, benzene and toluene. Insoluble in water.
| Density | 1.050 |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | 200-400 |
Hazards and Safety
Flammable. Flash point >93 C (>200 F).
Suspected carcinogen.
Irritating to skin, eyes and nose. Inhalation or ingestion of high quantities may be toxic.
LINK: MSDS
Authority
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 250
- Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past & Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985
- Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
- Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_tar (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)