What is white spirit?

White spirit, mineral spirits, or turpentine substitute, is an organic solvent with widespread applications in the painting and decorating industry. It consists of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons (C7-C12) obtained from petroleum fractions. White spirit is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild odor. Because of its relatively low volatility compared to similar solvents, it is in great demand for many industrial and household uses.

History of white spirit

White spirit is originally connected with developments in the petroleum industry during the 19th century. Developed as an alternative to natural solvents and at a lesser price, white spirit turned out to be very popular for thinning paints and cleaning tools. Since then, this has been developed further by a reduction in its toxicity and flammability, developing safer variants such as odorless mineral spirits. Despite wide usage, white spirits should be treated with great caution because it is highly flammable and potentially hazardous to human health.

white spirit properties

Physical:

• Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
• Odor: Characteristic, unpleasant kerosene-like smell (low-odor versions available)
• Viscosity: Low viscosity

Chemical:

• Composition: Mixture of aliphatic (paraffin) and aromatic hydrocarbons (C7-C12 range)
• Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in oils and many organic solvents

Flammability:

• Flashpoint: Low (flammable liquid) – typically around 105°C (221°F)
• Autoignition temperature: 240°C (464°F)
• Explosion limits: 0.6–6.5% by volume in air (highly flammable when vapors are mixed with air)

Others:

• Volatility: Moderate to high, evaporates readily
• Toxicity: Low to moderate toxicity, can irritate inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion

Various Grades of White Spirit

1. Low Flash Grade

This is the most volatile grade of white spirit, having a flash point that lies between 21°C and 30°C (70°F–86°F). Because of its high evaporation rate and flammability, it is suitable for specialized industrial applications where solvents are required to evaporate immediately after application.

Applications:

• Low flash-grade white spirit is utilized in applications that require quick drying or no residue, such as precision machinery cleaning, degreasing sensitive instruments, or industrial coatings that must dry quickly.

2. Regular Flash Grade:

Flashpoint ranges between 31°C and 54°C (88°F–129°F); hence, this grade is the most versatile and generally used type of white spirit. The balanced volatility offers a good combination of usability, safety, and performance.

Applications:

• Regular flash-grade white spirit is the go-to choice for paint thinning, cleaning painting equipment, degreasing mechanical parts, and preparing surfaces for coatings. Its moderate evaporation rate ensures effective cleaning without leaving residues. It is also used in varnishes, adhesives, and printing ink formulations.

3. High Flash Grade:

This grade has a flash point of more than 54°C (129°F) and, therefore, is safer for application in processes with fire hazards. Because of its lower evaporation rate, it will be suitable for longer-duration applications in processes where lower solvent emissions are required.

Applications:

• High flash-grade white spirit finds broad applications in confined spaces and high-temperature industries, such as automotive workshops, industrial cleaning operations, or as a carrier solvent in waxes and polishes. Because it evaporates rather slowly, it is very well adapted to processes requiring longer drying periods.

Application and uses of white spirit

Hydrocarbons, popularly known as mineral spirits, are among the highly used organic industrial and household solvents. Three salient properties of white spirits are that they thin paints, dissolve grease, and act as cleaning agents; hence, they find huge applications in many industries.

1. Paint Thinner and Cleaner

White spirit can be considered indispensable in the painting and decorating industry. It thins oil-based paints, varnishes, and stains so they go on smoothly and don’t lump up or show uneven finish, and it extends the workability of the paints to enable the professional to produce a superior job. Cleaning brushes, rollers, and other painting implements with white spirit saves money by prolonging the lives of both professionals and amateurs.

2. Degreasing Agent

Grease has excellent dissolving properties, making the solvent very popular in cleaning heavy machinery, automotive parts, and industrial equipment. It cleans grime, lubricants, and oil residues quite effectively, returning functionality and appearance to the equipment. White spirit is highly utilized in workshops, garages, and manufacturing facilities for such purposes.

3. Industrial Cleaning

It is used in some industrial cleaning procedures, which intend to remove dirt, tar, and remains of various kinds from machinery and production lines or simply from surfaces. White spirit finds appreciation as a solvent due to its effectiveness in dissolving difficult impurities.

4. Manufacturing Solvent

White spirit is an important ingredient in the manufacture of paints, coatings, and varnishes, improving their flow, adhesion, and drying characteristics. It is used in printing ink formulation, adhesives, and specialty chemical formulations, making it a key material in the chemical manufacturing industry.

5. Substance Extraction

In some industries, the white spirit could serve as an extracting solvent in certain ways to distinguish products from raw materials; thus, it is put to use in the manufacture of essences and wax processing when needed by manufacturers who aim to differentiate a desired component.

6. Artistic Applications

Among artists, the white spirit is valued for its ability to dilute oil paints and clean brushes without affecting the quality of pigments. It has less odor compared to traditional turpentine, is less toxic, and hence offers a safer and more pleasant environment in studios and workshops.

7. Household Cleaning

In domestic uses, the white spirit finds its application in cleaning tough stains, releasing adhesives, degreasing in general, cleaning up spills while painting, and other such applications. It works well in bringing back the finishes to furniture or preparing the grounds for repair works or painting.

Packing of white spirit

Drums:

• Material: Typically made of steel or plastic (HDPE).
• Capacity: Commonly available in 200-liter drums, but other sizes can be customized.
• Advantages: Durable, stackable, and reusable.
• Disadvantages: Handling and storage can be cumbersome.

Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs):

• Material: Plastic (often HDPE).
• Capacity: Generally ranges from 1000 to 1500 liters.
• Advantages: Efficient for bulk transportation, easy to handle with a forklift.
• Disadvantages: They are not as durable as drums, and there is potential for contamination.

Bulk Storage Tanks:

• Material: Typically made of steel.
• Capacity: Can hold thousands of liters.
• Advantages: Cost-effective for large-scale storage, efficient for production processes.
• Disadvantages: Requires specialized infrastructure and safety measures.