Petroleum distillate

Description

A liquid mixture of light hydrocarbons obtained from crude petroleum. Gasoline, or Naphtha, is the distillation fraction of petroleum that boils between 35-204C (100-400F). Kerosene is the heavier liquid fraction obtained in the boiling range of 204-343C. Mineral oil is collected from 330-360C. Additional fractions are often distilled from gasoline and have over the years been given many confusing and overlapping names:

- fraction (boiling range) = alternate names

• volatiles (<40C) = Propane, Butane, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), petroleum ether
• naphtha, light (35-60C) = petroleum ether, benzine, ligroin, petroleum spirits
• hydrocarbon solvents (60-100C) = Benzene, Toluene, hexanes, octane, petroleum solvent
• Ligroin (90-150 C) = benzine, petroleum spirits, VM&P naphtha, heavy naphtha
• Mineral spirits (150-200C) = paint thinner, white spirits, petroleum spirits, Stoddard solvent
• Mineral wax = Paraffin, Microcrystalline wax, Petrolatum

Risks

• Highly flammable.
• Toxic by ingestion and inhalation

Resources and Citations

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

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• Reed Kay, The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• George Savage, Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook, Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954