You have used aromatic solvent gasoline many times, but have you really understood this type of solvent? Photo: iStock.
When we were young, many of us were asked by our parents to buy aromatic solvent gasoline, especially when repainting or renovating the house at the end of the year. So, have you ever been curious about this liquid?
What is aromatic solvent gasoline?
Many people often mistakenly believe that aromatic solvent gasoline (banana oil, Japanese gasoline) is similar to regular gasoline used as fuel for vehicles such as motorbikes and cars, but in reality this is not the case. Aromatic solvent gasoline is a mixture of volatile industrial solvents such as toluene, xylene, or other light solvent blends. This name does not come from a pleasant smell, but from the fact that it belongs to the group of aromatic compounds in chemistry.
Because it is not a single substance but a mixture of many volatile solvents, aromatic solvent gasoline does not have a fixed chemical formula. However, its main components each have clear chemical formulas, for example: toluene (C7H8), xylene (C6H4(CH3)2), ethylbenzene (C8H10), ethyl acetate (C4H8O2), cyclohexane (C6H12), etc.
The characteristics of these compounds are very strong solvency, very fast evaporation, high flammability and strong combustion, and a very pungent odor, which often leads people to mistakenly think it is “aromatic”. Therefore, special caution is required when using it because:
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Prolonged inhalation can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and in severe cases may lead to nervous system damage.
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Long-term skin contact can cause irritation, dryness, and dermatitis.
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It is extremely flammable and explosive. Smoking is absolutely prohibited during use, as sparks can ignite it. The working environment must be kept away from fire sources, well ventilated, and users should wear respirators with vapor filters.
Is acetone aromatic solvent gasoline?
Many people mistakenly think acetone is a type of aromatic solvent gasoline, but in fact acetone is not aromatic solvent gasoline. Although they share similarities such as being industrial solvents, volatile, and having a strong odor, their chemical nature, properties, and uses are completely different. Specifically:
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Aromatic solvent gasoline is a solvent mixture with very strong adhesive dissolving ability, a pungent smell, and high toxicity. Besides paint thinning, it is mainly used to remove stubborn substances such as rubber cement, cyanoacrylate glue, asphalt, heavy grease, and for cleaning mechanical equipment.
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In contrast, acetone, also known as propanone, is a single compound with the chemical formula C3H6O, belonging to the ketone group. It has a sweet, candy-like smell, evaporates extremely fast, and is less toxic, but it has very strong plastic-corroding properties and can melt or crack plastics such as ABS, PS, and acrylic. Therefore, it is commonly used to remove nail polish, ink stains, polymer coatings, or to clean surfaces before painting.
Acetone and aromatic solvent gasoline share many similarities that can easily cause confusion. Image: GeeksforGeeks.
Uses of aromatic solvent gasoline
It is mainly used for cleaning and dissolving stubborn residues, with applications in removing grease, adhesive, resin, ink, and thin paint layers on metal, plastic, or glass surfaces. It is commonly used in phone repair, mechanical work, cleaning machine parts, and removing asphalt stains from vehicle bodies.
In the paint industry, aromatic solvent gasoline is used to dilute PU paint and oil-based paint, helping create a glossier surface and adjust the evaporation rate during spray painting. It is also used to clean tools such as spray guns, paint brushes, and surfaces contaminated with paint. In addition, these volatile compounds are used in the printing industry to clean printing plates and industrial printing machines.
Do gas stations sell aromatic solvent gasoline?
Since it is called “gasoline,” most gas stations do sell aromatic solvent gasoline, although it is not a main product. If the gas station near your home does not have it, you can try construction material stores or electrical and plumbing supply shops, as most of them sell this product. The retail price usually ranges from around 25,000 to 35,000 VND per liter and may vary depending on the time. If you purchase in larger quantities, you can contact reputable chemical suppliers to get better wholesale prices.
Gasoline and kerosene can also be used to mix paint, so why use aromatic solvent gasoline?
Although regular gasoline can still be used as a solvent to dilute paint and is cheaper, it is rarely used like aromatic solvent gasoline due to several important technical reasons.
By nature, gasoline (RON 92, RON 95) is fuel for engines, so its composition is unstable and contains many impurities, additives, and volatile hydrocarbons. This can cause the paint film after drying to become uneven, dull, yellowed, or develop air bubbles. In contrast, aromatic solvent gasoline is a purer industrial solvent with stronger dissolving power for paint resins, a suitable evaporation rate, and helps the paint spread evenly, creating a glossy and clear surface without cloudiness. It also maintains better stability of the paint mixture, prevents separation, and results in a more uniform paint finish.
In addition, some people use kerosene to mix paint in order to save costs. However, this method is only suitable in certain cases, such as anti-rust primer coatings for iron doors or non-decorative surfaces. This is because kerosene evaporates very slowly, even slower than gasoline, causing the paint film to dry slowly, easily attract dust, and leave runs. As a result, the painted surface often lacks high gloss and the color can appear dull or darker.
