Full Description

1.1 This specification covers the following kinds of spirits of turpentine as defined by the Naval Stores Act and Terminology D 804: gum spirits of turpentine, steam-distilled wood turpentine, sulfate wood turpentine, and destructively-distilled wood turpentine.

1.2 The purchaser should specify the kind of spirits of turpentine desired.

1.3 This specification is no longer widely used as it only specifies physical characteristics and not chemical composition. This specification was developed when the chief use for turpentine was as a solvent. Currently, especially in the United States, only a very limited quantity of turpentine is used as a solvent. Its main end use is as a raw material for the preparation of polyterpene type resins and synthetic organic chemicals. In spite of its limited application as a solvent, and hence the limited use of this specification, it is considered to be important to retain this specification. When information is required on chemical composition, gas chromatography is the recommended procedure (see Test Method D3009 ).