Many times we have heard about mineral oil, but rarely about its classification and uses. At Chem Fluid we have prepared this informative blog for you to learn a little more about the varieties of oil, its differences and its uses. Keep reading and let's learn something new!

What is mineral oil?

Before talking about the types of oils, it is interesting to understand what a mineral oil is.

Mineral oil is a liquid by-product that comes from the refining of petroleum through a crude oil distillation process. It is a transparent and colorless oil that is generally composed of alkanes and cyclic paraffin and, in addition, stands out for its viscosity and ability to disperse heat.

It is a substance that could be considered low-priced, in addition to being easy to produce in large quantities, since it is part of the most abundant group of lubricants. Containing thousands of different molecules and being a complex mixture, mineral oil is classified according to the type of predominant hydrocarbon:

• Paraffinic oils based on n-alkanes
• Naphthenic oils based on cycloalkanes
• Fragrance oils based on aromatic hydrocarbons (these should not be confused with essential oils)

The uses of mineral oil and its varieties are many. Next we are going to focus on naphthenic oil and paraffinic oil so that you can learn more about their differences and advantages.

Naphthenic oils

Naphthenic oils are characterized by having a formula CnHC2rO and generally have a high asphalt index since it is obtained directly from the refining of crude oil, they are also practically free of paraffins (45%).

What does this mean? A constant flow at very low temperatures. To obtain "refrigeration grade" naphthenic oils it is necessary to subject them to complex physical and chemical treatments such as dewaxing, bleaching, sulfur removal, treatments with acids and solvents, among others. All this entails an expensive process that therefore raises the price of this type of oil.

Naphthenic Oil Uses

Some of the uses of naphthenic oil are:

• Printing inks: especially in newspapers and magazines because it is practically colorless and has a high level of viscosity.
• Naphthenic oil 306 is a plasticizer that does not usually stain. It is also very compatible with all types of rubber – both natural and synthetic – and their mixtures. It is widely used in the manufacture of high quality rubber articles.

In addition, it is interesting to know that white oils can be derived from naphthenic oil, which in turn can be of two types: for technical or industrial use or for medicinal use.

Paraffinic oils

Paraffinic oils are characterized by the CnH(2n+2) chain and are relatively stable at high temperatures. Unlike naphthenic oils, this type of oil contains a high proportion of dissolved paraffin (75%), which means that they tend to solidify at high temperatures.

They usually contain saturated hydrocarbons in their composition and a high aniline index and low solvent power.

Uses of paraffinic oil

Some of the uses of paraffinic oil are:

• Manufacture of rubbers with low polarity.
• Agricultural insecticide, acaricide and fungicide: this oil is widely used in the production of products for the effective control of pests and some fruit diseases.

What is the difference between naphthenic oils and paraffinic oils?

• Naphthenic oils are generally more stable than paraffinic oils at high temperatures, but contain little or no paraffin, allowing them to be liquid at low temperatures.
• Naphthenic oils vary more in viscosity with temperature change than paraffinic oils and are generally considered inferior when used at temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius.

Do you need advice or a trusted provider? At Chem Fluid we have group 2 paraffinic lubricant bases, as well as USP mineral oil (paraffinic), and naphthenic oils. Contact us today for more information and let us be part of the success of your business.