What Does
Denatured Alcohol Mean?
This is a non-consumable colorless solvent or reactant made by the addition of legally defined denaturing materials into alcohols: ordinary ethyl alcohol.
It is mostly used in chemical products in the cosmetics industry and pharmaceuticals. It is used as fuel in alcohol burning appliances due to its odorless and smokeless properties. When diluted, it can be a good cleaner for glasses and removal of stains such as inks. Thinners also have some quantity of this product; it works as a viscosity controlling agent in this case.
Corrosionpedia Explains Denatured Alcohol
When ethanol is added to some chemical substances, the product is unfit for human consumption. The type of additive will determine whether the denatured alcohol will be used as fuel, a cosmetic ingredient or as a cleaner. Common denaturants used singularly or combined include methanol, gasoline, kerosene, chloroform, gasoline, naphthalene methyl alcohol benzene, butyl alcohol and pyridine.
Denatured alcohol is commonly legally available in three forms depending on the concentration of alcohol: industrial denatured alcohol (IDA) (wood naphtha is added); completely denatured alcohol (CDA) (isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone and denatonium benzoate are added); and trade-specific denatured alcohol (TSDA).
In complete denatured alcohol, it is hard to separate the alcohol and denaturants (methylated spirits). Denatured alcohol is normally dyed to give it color. It can vaporize when in air at temperatures above freezing point. As a cleaner, it can be used to remove stray paint or coatings.