Mineral Turpentine Oil (MTO), also known as mineral spirits or white spirit, is a clear, petroleum-derived solvent widely used in paints, coatings, printing inks and industrial cleaning. Produced through petroleum distillation and refining, it contains a mixture of hydrocarbons, with aromatic content and boiling range varying according to the supplied grade.
MTO is commonly used to thin compatible oil-based paints, varnishes and coatings, helping adjust application viscosity and improve flow. Its solvency supports the dissolution of suitable resins and binders, while its evaporation characteristics influence drying time and finish quality. It is also used in selected adhesive, polish and ink formulations.
Indusries using it :
lab report
| No. | Parameter | Test Method | Unit | Stated Limit | Result |
| 1 | Visual appearance | Visual | — | Clear and bright | Clear and bright |
| 2 | Density @ 15°C | ASTM D4052 | kg/m³ | 777.0–801.0 | 788.5 |
| 3 | Saybolt colour | ASTM D156 | Saybolt scale | To report | 23 |
| 4 | Initial boiling point | ASTM D86 | °C | Minimum 135 | 151 |
| 5 | Distillation — 50% volume recovered | ASTM D86 | °C | To report | 182.4 |
| 6 | Distillation — 95% volume recovered | ASTM D86 | °C | Maximum 232 | 224.2 |
| 7 | Aromatics content | ASTM D6379 | % volume | Maximum 40 | 16.9 |
| 8 | Residue on evaporation | IP 540 | % weight | Maximum 0.005 | 0.001 |
| 9 | Water content by Karl Fischer | ISO 12937 | % weight | Maximum 0.5 | 0.01 |
| 10 | Copper strip corrosion | ASTM D130 | Rating | Not worse than No. 1 | 1a |
| 11 | Flash point (Abel) | IP 170 | °C | Minimum 35 | 39.5 |
| 12 | Mercaptan sulphur | ASTM D3227 | % weight | Maximum 0.0030 | 0.0018 |
| 13 | Total sulphur | ASTM D4294 | % weight | To report | 0.236 |
