

Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air and use of water spray to fight fires may be inefficient. Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable and can easily ignite. It is also used to remove brake fluid traces from hydraulic braking systems, so as to prevent poor braking conditions created by contaminated brake pads. In addition to fuel additives, isopropyl alcohol is also used in an aerosol form as a windshield or door lock de-icer. Once soluble, water does not pose the same risk as insoluble water, as it no longer accumulates in the supply lines and freezes but instead is consumed with the fuel itself. Automotive UsesĪ major ingredient in “gas dryer” fuel additives, isopropyl alcohol solubilizes water in gasoline. It is used widely as a solvent and as a cleaning fluid, especially for dissolving oils. Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used for cleaning eyeglasses, electrical contacts, audio or video tape heads, DVD and other optical disc lenses, and removing thermal paste from heatsinks on CPUs. It is also used in rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting pads typically in a concentration between 60%-70%. Isopropyl alcohol has many medical uses including as a water-drying aid for the prevention of otitis externa, better known as swimmer’s ear. Today, Isopropyl alcohol is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household chemicals and is a common ingredient in chemicals such as antiseptics, disinfectants, and detergents. At the time, it’s major use was not rubbing alcohol but instead for oxidation to acetone, which was first extensively used in World War 1 for the preparation of cordite. In 1920, isopropyl alcohol was first produced by Standard Oil by hydrating propene.

Both mixtures are flammable, the 99% variant much more so because of its high flash point. They are ozone safe and have a low impact on climate. However, rapid evaporation does have a downside in that the shelf life of this mixture is not as long as other IPA mixtures.īoth the 70% & 99% mixtures are non corrosive to metals and are plastic safe too. If a chip or circuit board needs a quick clean up if something is spilled 99% IPA is the way to go. This type of IPA mixture evaporates rapidly which makes it useful in computers and electronics manufacturing. This mixture of IPA is more commonly used as a solvent or cleaning agent for industries that produce products that are sensitive to water. This means that 91% IPA takes longer to act and doesn’t kill as much bacteria as 70% IPA. With 91% IPA, the evaporation is instant and protein coagulates, rendering the effect of the IPA greatly reduced. In addition, the presence of water slows down evaporation and increases the surface contact time with the membrane. The water acts as a catalyst and plays a major role in denaturing the proteins of cell membranes of vegetative cells. Thus, the mixture of 70% Isopropyl alcohol and 30% water works best. This percentage of water needs to be at least more than 10% within the solution.

In order for the Isopropyl alcohol to be effective, there must be enough presence of water. However, concentrations higher than 90% doesn’t increase effectiveness against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Isopropyl alcohol is very effective against microbial bacteria, fungi, and viruses in concentrations between 60% and 90%. Isopropyl alcohol is also known as 2-propanol, sec-propyl alcohol, IPA, or isopropanol. Isopropyl Alcohol is colorless, however it does have a strong odor and is a flammable chemical compound. Isopropyl Alcohol is a common chemical used in a variety of industrial and consumer capacities.
