Porpoise oil

Beluga

Description

A pale yellow liquid used as a lubricant for watches and precision instruments. Porpoise oil is obtained from the head and jaw of the beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, and the narwhal, Monodon monoceros. It is resistant to gumming, oxidation, and evaporation.

Synonyms and Related Terms

dolphin oil

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Soluble in ether, chloroform, benzene and carbon disulfide.
• Saponification value = 290
• Iodine value = 10-30
• Density = 0.926-0.929

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 867

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993