Listing description
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin/paraffin wax or multi-hydrocarbon, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons (with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25), originally
promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties.
Detailed description
After
petroleum jelly became a medicine chest staple, consumers began to use it for
many ailments as well as cosmetic purposes, including toenail fungus, genital
rashes (non-STD), nosebleeds, diaper rash, and chest colds. Its folkloric
medicinal value as a "cure-all" has since been limited by better
scientific understanding of appropriate and inappropriate uses. It is
recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an approved over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant, and remains widely used in cosmetic skin care.
Uses
Most uses of petroleum jelly exploit its lubricating
and coating properties.
Medical treatment
Vaseline brand First Aid Petroleum Jelly, or
carbolated petroleum jelly containing phenol to give the jelly
additional antibacterial effect, has been
discontinued. During World War II, a variety of
petroleum jelly called red
veterinary petrolatum, or Red
Vet Pet for short, was often included in life raft survival kits. Acting as a sunscreen, it provides
protection against ultraviolet rays.[6]
A verified medicinal use is to protect and prevent
moisture loss of the skin of a patient in the initial post-operative period
following laser skin resurfacing.[7][8]
There is one case report published in 1994
indicating petroleum jelly should not be applied to the inside of the nose due to the risk of lipid pneumonia, but this was only
ever reported in one patient.[9] However, petroleum
jelly is used extensively by otolaryngologists—ear, nose, and throat
surgeons—for nasal moisture and epistaxis treatment,
and to combat nasal crusting. Large studies have assessed petroleum jelly
applied to the nose for short durations to have no significant side effects.[10][11][12]
Historically, it was also consumed for internal use
and even promoted as "Vaseline confection".[13][14]
Skin and hair care
Most petroleum jelly today is used as an ingredient
in skin lotions and cosmetics, providing
various types of skin care and protection by minimizing friction or reducing
moisture loss, or by functioning as a grooming aid.
Preventing moisture loss
By reducing moisture loss, petroleum jelly can
prevent chapped hands and lips, and soften nail
cuticles.
This property is exploited to provide heat
insulation: petroleum jelly can be used to keep swimmers warm in water when
training or during channel crossings or long ocean swims. It can prevent
chilling of the face due to evaporation of skin moisture during cold weather
outdoor sports.
Hair grooming
In the first part of the twentieth century,
petroleum jelly, either pure or as an ingredient, was also popular as a hair pomade. When used in a 50/50 mixture with pure beeswax, it makes an
effective moustache wax.
Skin lubrication
Petroleum jelly can be used to reduce the friction
between skin and clothing during various sport activities, for example to
prevent chafing of the seat region
of cyclists, the nipples of long distance
runners wearing loose T-shirts, and is commonly used in the crotch area of wrestlers and footballers.
Petroleum jelly is commonly used as a personal lubricant because it does not
dry out like water-based lubricants, and has a distinctive "feel",
different from that of K-Y and related methylcellulose products.[15] However, it is not
recommended for use with condoms during sexual
activity because it swells latex and thus increases the chance of rupture. It
is also not recommended for vaginal intercourse because it may increase the
risk of yeast infection and bacterial
vaginosis in women. It may be used safely for anal intercourse.
Product care and protection
Coating
Petroleum jelly can be used to coat corrosion-prone
items such as metallic trinkets, non-stainless steel blades, and gun barrels
prior to storage as it serves as an excellent and inexpensive water repellent.
It is used as an environmentally friendly underwater antifouling coating for
motor boats and sailing yachts. It was recommended in the Porsche owner’s manual as a
preservative for light alloy (alleny) anodized Fuchs wheels to protect them
against corrosion from road salts and brake dust. “Every three months (after
regular cleaning) the wheels should be coated with petroleum jelly.”[16]
Finishing
It can be used to finish and protect wood, much like
a mineral oil finish. It is used to condition and protect smooth leather
products like bicycle saddles, boots, motorcycle clothing, and used to put a
shine on patent leather shoes[17] (when applied in a
thin coat and then gently buffed off).
Lubrication
Petroleum jelly can be used to lubricate zippers and slide rules. It was also
recommended by Porsche in maintenance training documentation for lubrication
(after cleaning) of "Weatherstrips on Doors, Hood, Tailgate, Sun
Roof". The publication states "…before applying a new coat of
lubricant…" "Only acid-free lubricants may be used, for example:
glycerine, Vaseline, tire mounting paste, etc. These lubricants should be
rubbed in, and excessive lubricant wiped off with a soft cloth."[18]
Production processes
Petroleum jelly is a useful material when
incorporated into candle wax formulas. The petroleum jelly softens the overall
blend, allows the candle to incorporate additional fragrance oil, and
facilitates adhesion to the sidewall of the glass. Petroleum jelly is used to
moisten nondrying modelling clay such as plasticine, as part of a mix of hydrocarbons
including those with greater (paraffin wax) and lesser (mineral oil) molecular weights.
It is used as a tack reducer additive to printing inks to reduce paper lint
"picking" from uncalendered paper stocks. It can be used as a release
agent for plaster molds and castings. It is used in the leather industry as a
waterproofing cream. It can be used for tinder, lightly coated on a cotton ball. It has been used
as a secondary ingredient in a Molotov cocktail, to make the flames
stick to any surface they touch and to make large amounts of smoke. It is used
as a multifunctional product.
Other
Mechanical, barrier functions
Petroleum jelly can be used to coat the inner walls
of terrariums to prevent animals
crawling out and escaping.
A stripe of petroleum jelly can be used to prevent
the spread of a liquid. For example, it can be applied close to the hairline
when using a home hair dye kit to prevent the hair dye from irritating or
staining the skin. Also used as a Diaper Rash preventive treatment.
Surface cleansing
Petroleum jelly is used to gently clean a variety of
surfaces, ranging from makeup removal from faces to tar stain removal from
leather.
Pet care
Petroleum jelly is used to moisturize the paws of
dogs, and to inhibit fungal growth on aquatic turtles’ shells. It is a common ingredient
in "hairball" remedies for domestic cats.
Clean-up
Petroleum jelly is very sticky and hard to remove
from non-biological surfaces with the
usual and customary cleaning agents typically found in the home. It may be dissolved with paint thinner or other petroleum
solvents such as acetone,[19] which
dissolves many plastics.
Petroleum jelly is slightly soluble in alcohol.[20] To avoid damage to
plastics as well as minimize ventilation issues, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol can be used to
remove petroleum jelly from most surfaces. Isopropyl alcohol is inert to most
household surfaces, including almost every plastic, and removes petroleum jelly
efficiently. While alcohol causes fewer ventilation problems than petroleum
solvents, ventilation is still recommended, especially if large surface areas
are involved.
Petroleum jelly is also soluble in lower molecular
weight oils. Using an oil to dissolve the petroleum jelly first can render it
more soluble to solvents and soaps that would not dissolve pure petroleum
jelly. Vegetable oils such as canola and olive oil are commonly used to aid in
the removal of petroleum jelly from hair and skin.
$19.04/kg or $8.65/ib
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