Mineral Oil, near the beer and bul'its! -----Original Message----- From: Colin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:32 PM To: nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu Subject: [NSP] Re: boring discovery
No it went by another name. Can't remember what it was called though but there was a big discussion about it some time ago - round July 2005 (I think it is known as mineral oil in the States which again means something totally different in the UK). The main thing to remember is that it's primary use is as a laxative and is available at a pharmacy for that purpose. That will also ensure that it is of good quality. If it can't be taken, it's the wrong stuff. It's also not something that burns in a stove (paraffin over here is what you call kerosene in the US and that is NOT what we are talking about - unless you are really fed up with your pipes although it is the same substance - as is candle wax - but t a different stage in it's production!). There was also a discussion on whether it had an adverse effect on some synthetic materials (pads etc) so here's the answer to that one from Mike Sharp sent to the list last year in response to a question from Colin Ross.. Colin Hill >I asked my wife the chemist to comment on Colin's question. Here is her response: >Well first I had to figure out exactly what Liquid paraffin oil is. I appears to be the same thing as Mineral oil. > > "Mineral oils are of variable composition depending on the boiling > point of the fractions used. For food purposes usually liquid > petrolatum or liquid paraffin are employed which consist essentially > of n-alkanes and some cyclic paraffins." > > >N-alkanes present in mineral oil are things like heptadecane (17 carbons), ecosane (20 carbons), tetracosane (24 carbons) and dotriacontane (32 carbons). A cycloparaffin present is dodecycyclohexane (C18). >Depending on the boiling point of the liquid paraffin oil what the average length of the alkanes would be. Longer chains would give a higher boiling point. > > >Chemical Resistance Charts indicate for mineral oil: >B - minor effect on LDPE (low density polyethylene), polycarbonate (Lexan), PVC, hypalon(r), neoprene, and tygon(r) >C - moderate effect on silicone and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) >D - severe effect; not recommended on EPDM (Ethylene propylene diene monomer, synthetic rubber) and natural rubber > >Synthetic leathers appear to be either a polyurethane film or a PVC sponge on fabric. Polyurethane is supposedly chemically resistant to mineral oil. Mineral oil would have a moderate effect on the PVC. So this type of synthetic leather could be a possibility. > >So, without knowing what the exact composition of the synthetic leather bellows, this is the information I can offer. > >--Sheri > I hope this helps. --Mike This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Este mensaje (incluyendo los archivos adjuntos) esta dirigido solo al receptor senalado y puede contener informacion de caracter privilegiada, privada o confidencial. Si usted no es el receptor senalado o bien ha recibido este mensaje por error, por favor notifique inmediatamente al remitente y elimine el mensaje original. Cualquier otro uso de este mensaje de correo electronico esta prohibido. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html