Nomenclature
Petroleum jelly; paraffin jelly; vasoliment; Cosmoline (E. F. Houghton); Saxoline; Stanolene (Amoco); Vaseline (Chesebrough). Description and references
Purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons,
chiefly of the methane series of the general formula CnH2n+2. Actually, petrolatum is a colloidal system of
nonstraight-chain solid hydrocarbons and high-boiling liq hydrocarbons,
in which most of the liq hydrocarbons are held inside the micelles.
Detailed historical account including chemistry and modern mfg methods:
Schindler, Drug Cosmet. Ind. 89, 36-37, 76, 78-80, 82 (1961).
Properties
Yellowish to light amber or white, semisolid,
unctuous mass; practically odorless and tasteless. d2560 0.820-0.865. mp 38-54°. nD60 1.460-1.474. White petrolatum is transparent
in thin layers even at 0°. Practically insol in water, glycerol,
alcohol. Sol in benzene, chloroform, ether, petr ether, carbon disulfide,
oils.Use
As ointment base in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Lubricating firearms and machinery, leather grease, shoe polish,
rust preventives, modeling clays.