Naphthas are also used in other applications such as:
* (as an unprocessed component - in contrast to reforming above) in the production of petrol/motor gasoline.
* industrial solvents and cleaning fluids
* an oil painting medium
* the sole ingredient in the home cleaning fluid Energine, which has been discontinued. You can purchase this type of naphtha at any hardware store.
* an ingredient in shoe polish
* an ingredient in some lighter fluids for wick type lighters such as Zippo lighters.
* an adulterant to petrol
* a fuel for portable stoves and lanterns, sold in North America as white gas or Coleman fuel.
* historically, as a probable ingredient in Greek fire (together with grease, oil, sulfur, and naturally occurring saltpeter from the desert)
* a fuel for fire spinning, fire juggling, or other fire performance equipment which creates a brighter and cleaner yet shorter burn.
* to lightly wear the finish off guitars when preparing "relic" instruments.
* to remove oil from the aperture blades of camera lenses, which if present can cause slow the movement of the blades, leading to overexposure.
* in medieval times, pots containing naphtha were used in battle as a form of primitive grenade.
[edit] Examples
Shellite (Australia), also known as white gas (North America), white spirit or Coleman fuel, is a water white liquid with a hydrocarbon odour. Shellite has a flashpoint less than -30 degrees Celsius, and a boiling point of 47 degrees Celsius. The composition of shellite is 95% paraffins and naphthenes, less than 5% aromatic hydrocarbons and less than 0.5% benzene. It is highly flammable and due to its low flashpoint is used in many low pressure camping stoves. Shellite is also a fast drying solvent used for cleaning metal, hard plastic and painted surfaces. Ronsonol is a brand name used in North America, and is marketed principally as a refill fluid for cigarette lighters.