Mineral oils are vital for the success of many industrial applications. The versatility associated with mineral oil makes it the most sought out product for many industries. The U.S. is the prominent producer and consumer of oil and represents an 18% share. Before purchasing the oil, users and mineral oil suppliers must discuss with the manufacturers to select an oil that best suits the industry’s requirements. Different companies use mineral oil for various purposes. Therefore, it is vital to understand why you need the oil and what specifications you want. Here is an overview of some of the industries that use mineral oils in their processes.
1. The Rubber Industry
The main compound that is essential for the manufacture of rubber is elastomer. The compound cannot be processed without the aid of mineral oils. Platisizers too need the compound for production. The type of oil that is required to manufacture different rubber products varies. If your company focuses on passenger car tyres, you will need Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber. This product requires high aromatic content, which is essential in improving rolling resistance, abrasion, and wet grip. Manufacturers of non-polar rubbers require low viscosity mineral oil.
2. Use of White Mineral Oil in the Manufacture of Thermoplastic Elastomers
The two most crucial thermoplastic elastomer types include Poly-olefins and Styrene block polymers. Manufacturing these elastomers require low viscosity mineral oil. If the aromatic content of the oil used is higher, the styrene domain is negatively affected. As such, it experiences a decline in mechanical properties. The decrease may be common at higher temperatures. It is recommendable to use white oils if you need to meet highly demanding requirements such as for food contact applications and UV stability.
3. Use Oil in Preparation of Adhesives
Pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesives are made from Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber, which is made up of a significant amount of mineral oil. Picking and using the right choice of oil will determine the effectiveness of the adhesive. By selecting the right choice of oil and correctly using it, you can prevent the undesired migration of the adhesive from the packaging material into the packaged product. You should always seek professional guidance from the right low viscosity mineral oil manufacturers and suppliers to ensure you buy oil that fits the adhesives preparation standards.
4. Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals Industry
Mineral oils are highly used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is one of the sectors that require complete compliance of the product to be manufactured in relation to different tests in the pharmacopeia monograph. Most of the products made in this industry need low viscosity mineral oil. Some of these products include lotions and liquids, ointments, fatty creams, and sticks. The concentration of oil used in any of these products varies from 1% to 100%. For instance, baby oil should be made from 100% pharmaceutical white oil. Some of the products such as ointments and lotions may contain water in varying amounts. Other functions of mineral oils in medical devices and pharmaceutical industry include being used as moisturizers, refatting agents, emulsion stabilizers, and viscosity modifiers.
5. Use of Mineral Oils in Cosmetics Industry
The use of mineral oils in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry is the same as in the cosmetics sector. To ensure safety in usage, the manufactured products must meet the international standards and related regulations. The purity requirements are the main focus of the oils in this industry. A slight deviation from the required purity level may make the products harmful. For instance, cosmetics made to meet unique needs such as high-temperature resistance (e.g., sun protection products) may fail if the needed concentration is not used. Products such as petroleum jelly may have 100% concentration, while others such as ointment and lotions may contain water in varying quantities. To guarantee the safety of beauty products such as lipsticks and mascaras, unique oil properties must be used to ensure that the end products perform accordingly. Other cosmetics products that require precise use of the exact mineral oil property include make-up removers, shaving foams, soaps, and styling formulations.
Regardless of the company among the described herein that you run, you should always purchase mineral oil from a reputable white oil manufacturer. This will save you from using oil that does not meet international standards.