It was hard to imagine life without solvents in the past. Uses in industry, paintwork, and everyday life to clean tools, surfaces, etc. The most famous type of solvent is the white spirit. This liquid is extensively used because it is one of the most environmentally friendly and safest options.
What is the White Spirit?
White spirit is an organic solvent obtained directly by processing oil distillation.
The liquid is transparent, colourless, and slightly oily, posing a low degree of danger (group 4).
Domestic spirits have a relatively sharp smell. Still, because they undergo additional purification stages, the European version of this solvent is free of this drawback. However, everything is not as simple here as it seems; when the purification degree is higher, it reduces the level of solubility, so it is necessary to understand that the consumption of European white sprite will be excellent.
White spirit is a solvent that does not have a clear formula, as it is made by distillation and has a composition based on the raw materials.
Best Features & Characteristics of the White Spirit
Essential Characteristics of the White Spirit:
Boiling point: 165 °C
Density: 0.79g/cm (at 20 °C)
Flash Point: Not less than 330 °C
Volatility According To Xylene: 3-4.5
Essential Features of White Spirit Solvent
- Effective when varnishing and diluting paints.
- Compared to other solvents, it has excellent degreasing ability on various surfaces.
- Possibility to use for internal works
- Insignificant consumption of material
- Rapid evaporation after application
- Low volatility
- Good price
- Low toxicity and safe use
- White spirit does not lose its properties for long—resistance to adverse storage conditions.
- Field of application of spirit
White spirit is mainly used as a solvent for sulfur compounds, oil fractions, oxygen, and nitrogen. This solvent is used in various industries and everyday life.
Uses of White Spirit in Everyday Life
Due to its relatively low toxicity and volatility, spirit is used daily. It is widely used for removing sealant after finishing work and is indispensable for removing the protective film from metal-plastic windows.
- It often removes bitumen stains and fuel oil from shoes and clothes. White Spirit is excellent for cleaning floors (parquet, laminate, and linoleum) because it easily removes ink, paint, fat, blood, etc.
- Application of spirit in numerous industries.
This solvent is comprehensively used in various industries for:
- Production of primers
- Production of bitumen, oil, and their derivatives
- Production of varnishes and paints.
- Creation of liquids is used to treat a wooden surface to protect against fungus and molds
- Moreover, the spirit has found its application as a solvent in the paint, wood chemicals, rubber, and food industries.
Use of White Spirit as a Solvent
In general, spirit solubility is average, but it is extensively used to dilute different types of materials to achieve the required consistency. Similarly, the solvent is included in the materials and moves until it mixes adequately to become homogeneous.
White spirit is used with the following materials:
- Varnish
- Alkyd enamels
- Oils
- Bituminous and rubber mastics
- Alkyd varnishes.
In such a situation, the painter will easily apply paint, it will dry faster, and the material costs will reduce.
- Pentaphthalic
- Urea
- Oil Styrene
- Alkyd Styrene
- Melamine
Using the White Spirit as a Cleaner
As we discuss above, white spirit perfectly cleans surfaces from ink, bitumen, grease stains, fuel, etc. However, the spirit’s role as a cleaner does not end there!
- Remove remnants of oil putty and paint, which helps to prepare the surface for further processing.
- Cleaning painting tools
- Degreasing natural skin
- Removal of glue residues from rosin stains and scotch tape
- Removal of fungus and mold from wood
- Degreasing glass, wooden surfaces, metal, and rubber.
- Removal of essential impurities from numerous parts.
- Washing mechanisms.
- Remove oil, bitumen, and wax contamination from different surfaces.
Uses of White Spirit in the Automotive Industry
Among drivers, the spirit is famous for removing vehicle mastic. This solvent is the best cleaner for all bitumen-based compounds and shale mastic.
It is necessary to remember that spirits have a highly corrosive activity, so their extended stay on the car surface can damage it.
Which Is Better: Solvent Or White Spirit?
Understanding the basic similarities and differences between solvents and mineral spirits is essential for determining which option best suits your needs.
Production: Solvent and mineral liquor are petroleum products obtained by refining crude oil. But they produce in different temperature ranges.
Compounds: Solvents contain a high percentage of aromatic hydrocarbons (up to 56%) which can cause a strong odour in confined spaces and have dangerous effects.
White Spirit: These hydrocarbons have a lower concentration. This gives off a slight odour and is relatively safe for long-term use in vacuum areas. Important differences:
Colour: Sometimes, the solvent may appear slightly yellow, but white liquor is generally transparent. Drying Time: Solvents typically dries quickly in 10 to 20 minutes.
No Color Spirit: Takes longer to dry, approximately 1-2 hours.
Solvent: Stronger pungent odor due to higher concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons.
No Color Spirit: Milder odour and less concentrated. It makes it easier to use at home Surface finishing.
Solvent: Tends to leave a glow on the surface.
White Spirit: Dries to a matte finish and often leaves behind a protective film.
Conclusion
White spirit is a versatile, low-toxicity solvent used across various industries and everyday life for cleaning, degreasing, and diluting materials. Products like spirits from AL Faraji Oil are popular due to their mild odor and slow evaporation rate, making them ideal for home use and industrial applications alike.
