Maney Publishing

The Composition of Proprietary Paint Strippers

Author(s): Thomas Wollbrinck
Source: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Spring, 1993), pp.
43-57
Published by: Maney Publishing on behalf of The American Institute for Conservation of Historic &
Artistic Works
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 THE COMPOSITION OF
PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS
THOMAS WOLLBRINCK
ABSTRACT--This article lists 47 commercial
paint stripper formulations and discusses the prin-
ciples behind their chemical activity. Paint strip-
per manufacturerswere contacted for product in-
formation, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS),
and references on the subject. Other paint strip-
per formulations were found through a literature
search, including U.S. government documents.
Paint stripper formulations range in complexity
from two-ingredient solutions to systems employ-
ing primary and co-solvents, activators, thick-
eners, wetting agents, chelating or sequestering
agents, corrosion inhibitors, and colorants. The
function of each component category is discussed,
with specific reference to commercial require-
ments and the requirements of those working in
the art conservation field.
1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this projectwas to compile
information about the materials used in
proprietarypaint strippers. Letters were
written to 29 paint strippercompaniesre-
questing product information, Material
Safety Data Sheets, and referencesto any
literature on the subject. Nineteen
Several
responded. companies offered the
name of a person to answermore specific
questions. Other paint stripperformulations
were found in public records,includingin-
formation from the U.S. Environmental
ProtectionAgency and the U.S. Patent Of-
fice.
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The informationacquired offers insight
into commercial thought processes for
choosingsolvent combinationsand may lead
to the formulationof more appropriatepaint
strippersby those workingin the field of art
conservation.
2. DISCUSSION
Paintstripperstend to be viewed in termsof
solubility parameters, with methylene
chlorideacting as the primarysolvent and a
few secondarysolvents adjustingits position
on the Teas diagram. At best, this view is
overly simplistic.Paint strippersemploy a
wide variety of chemical mechanisms and
may be engineeredfor specificpurposes.
The initial intent of this project was to
determine the composition of "typical"
hardwarestore paint strippers. It became
clear that the theory behind these products
could not be isolatedfrom the broadersub-
ject of commercialstripping.Referencewill
also be made to commercialcleaners with
respectto the removalof paint, rust, grease,
and othersurfacecontaminants.
A survey of commercialpaint removal
processesencompassesthree basic methods:
physical, mechanical,and chemical (Block
1986). The physical processes of paint
removal include (1) burn off and incinera-
tion; (2) hot fluidized bed (a method that
utilizes both high temperature,500-6007F,
and abrasivemedia action in a specialized
chamber);and (3) cryogenics.The mechani-
JAIC 32(1993):43-57
44 THOMASWOLLBRINCK
cal processes are (1) scraping;(2) sanding;
(3) blastingwith abrasives;and (4) chipping.
Chemicalremovalprocessesinclude(1) cold
solvent (acid or alkalineactivated);(2) hot
alkalineremoval;and (3) molten saltbaths.
All of these processes are designed to
degradethe paintfilm or destroyadhesionof
the film to the substrate. While severalof
these methods are commonly employed in
art conservation,the focus of this discussion
is chemicalprocesses,primarilycold solvent
strippers.
With the introduction of progressively
more resistantfinishes,the paint stripperin-
dustry is constantly being challenged to
develop more efficient removal methods.
Variationsin coatings,substrates,andsurface
contaminantsmake it impossibleto provide
firm guidelinesidentifyingthe most effective
methods. The formulationof a paint strip-
per--like the development of any cleaning
system--is something of an art. Chemical
combinationsthat theoreticallyshould work
often do not (Hahnand Werschulz1986).
Paint removerstoday have to meet some
or all of the following design criteria(Mazia
1979):
1 strippingability
2 lack of corrosivenessto substrates
3 freedomfrom galvanicattackat the
junctureof dissimilarmetals
4 freedomfrom cresols,phenols,benzol
(benzene), and othernoxious andtoxic
chemicals
5 good shelf life
6 thixotropicitywhere needed
7 sealableinternallyor with watercap to
preventrapidevaporation
8 abilityto leave a readilyrecoatablesur-
face
Generally, paint stripper labels only list
the components that are recognized as haz-
JAIC 32(1993):43-57
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ardous in use. Actual formulations are
usually more complicated, employing
primaryand co-solvents, activators, thick-
eners,wettingagents,chelatingor sequester-
ing agents, corrosion inhibitors, and
colorants.
The activity of a paint strippermay in-
clude three different mechanisms:(1) the
paint can be dissolved to form a solution
with the solvent; (2) the paint film may be
destroyedby a chemical reaction with the
solvent; and (3) penetrationof the stripper
into the paint film--either directly or
throughscratches,holes, or broken edges-
destroysits adhesionto the base material.
For industrialpurposes, pure dissolution
of the paint film generallyis not viewed as
desirable because dissolution leads to
redeposition and clearance problems.
Preferably,the paint film will separatefrom
the substratein sheets large enough that it
cannot act as a regeneratedpaint or stain.
To avoid these problems, methylene
chloride is generallychosen as the primary
solvent.
CHLORIDE
2.1 METHYLENE
In theory, the effectivenessof methylene
chloride is due to its small molecular size,
which facilitates rapid penetration of the
paint film, and to its intermediatesolvency
for various polymer coatings.1 As
methylene chloride penetratesto the sub-
strate, the paint film swells to 10 times its
originalvolume (Sizelove 1972). The swell-
ing causes an increase in internal pressure
that can only be relievedin a directionaway
from the substrate. The film wrinkles,bub-
bles, andblisters,resultingin its releasefrom
the substrate.
If the paint film is continuous, and the
intrinsic strength of the film is greater than
 THE COMPOSITIONOF PROPRIETARYPAINTSTRIPPERS
the bond strength to the base, the paint will
flake or scale oft leavingsome flakesadher-
ing to the surface. Any pressurebuilt up in
these remainingflakescan be releasedin the
plane of the surface,so there is no reasonto
expect removalthroughthismechanism.
Penetration of methylene chloride
through the paint film explains why com-
mercial paint strippersare often not a safe
choice for the removal of a specificlayer of
overpaint in a work of art. Methylene
chloride would tend to move through the
overpaintand into the originalpaint layer.
Depending on film thickness, lower paint
layerscould show a greaterrelativeswelling
than the overpaintlayer. If the overpaint
layer was sufficientlyfractured,the resulting
swelling could be releasedin plane, making
the stripperineffective.
For health and environmentalreasons,al-
ternatives to methylene chloride are curr-
ently being investigated.
2.2 CO-SOLVENTS
Co-solvents are used to increasethe ver-
satility of the stripperin attackingcoatings
that resist the primarysolvent. Co-solvents
are usuallyincorporatedat levels of 5-10%;
at higher concentrations they serve as
dilutantsandmay lower the flashpointof the
composition(Kirkand Othmer1968). There
is wide variationin the typesof these secon-
dary solvents. In the past, phenols and
cresols were the most importantco-solvents
in industrialformulations. For example,
ethanolassistsin the removalof shellaccoat-
ings, and methyl ethyl ketone assistsin strip-
ping cellulose nitrate finishes. Concerns
about toxicity have caused a substantial
reductionin the use of these two materials.
The most common co-solvent types in
hardware store paint strippers are alcohols,
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45
acetone, and aromatic and aliphatic
hydrocarbons. Thirty of the materialsin
table 1 function to some degree as co-sol-
vents.
In certaininstancesit is desirableto reject
chlorinatedhydrocarbonsin favor of solvent
blendsthat are designedto dissolvethe paint
film. Some solventstrippersemployketones
and aromatichydrocarbonblends and are
used primarilywhere other strippersfail,
such as on low intrinsic strength films or
sharplyangledsurfaces.
2.3 ACTIVATORS
The term "activator"refersto an additive
that increasesthe strippingrate. Activators
can functionby increasingthe penetrationof
the solvent into the substrate.In methylene
chloride-based strippers, the addition of
enough water to saturate the methylene
chloridewill reduce strippingtime as much
as 90%(Martens1974). Activators may also
be acids, alkalis, or amines, which act to
hydrolyzemolecularlinkagesand thus break
down the paint film. Activatorsare often
chosen for their effectiveness on specific
paintfilmsor underspecificconditions. For
example, acids are generally chosen for
epoxy resins since they hydrolyze ether
linkages. Hot strippersusuallyemployhigh-
ly alkalineactivators,often based on sodium
hydroxide. Cold strippersemploy acidic,
basic, and neutral activators(Block 1986).
The following solvent selection chart is of-
fered by Ringel (1989) as a guide to choos-
ing solvent/activatorcombinations.
JAIC32(1993):43-57
46 THOMASWOLLBRINCK

SOLVENT SELECTION CHART Prussianblue and organic lakes, may dis-

color. Strongly acidic solutions can react
SOLVENT MATERIALTO BE REMOVED with a wide range of metals. Amine ac-
Epoxy SiliconeUrethanePhoto- tivatorsare often chosen over acid activators
resist becausethey tend to be less corrosiveon the
Alcohol base substrateand on the metal container.3
(alkaline
activator) Corrosion inhibitorsare often added to
Methylene
chloride base (acid protectthe substrateas well as the container,
activator) which is usually tin plate. Over time,
Propyleneglycol, X X X X chlorinatedhydrocarbonsmay break down,
ether base
forminghydrochloricacid. Propyleneoxide
(alkalineactivator) and butylene oxide are scavengersfor HCl
X I
Methylpyrrolidone I x I x in nonaqueous formulas. A yellow or
Concentrateof
sulfuricor nitric orange colorationof the paint strippermay
acid indicatethat a chromate-basedcorrosionin-
hibitorhas been added. Other inhibitorsin-
Because many of the co-solvents also act clude silicatesalts, polyphosphates,and an-
to disruptmolecularlinkages,it is often dif- tioxidantssuch as borates.
ficult to assign a specific purpose for each
additive. For example,methanol,a power- 2.5 SURFACTANTS
ful solvent on oil films, is generally Surfactantsare included in most paint
catagorizedas a co-solvent, but it can alsostripperformulations. Surfactantsassistsol-
be classified as an activatorif it acts as a
vents by wetting or penetratingthe surface
carrying agent for the primary solvent. of the paintfilm. Surfactantsalso help clear
Methanol may also be introducedto swell the stripperon washing. This characteristic
the thickener.2 Phenol, also generally makespaintstrippersgood brushcleaners.
categorized as a co-solvent, is a weak or- Becausesurfactantsare addedin low con-
ganic acid that may also function as an ac-centrations,they are generallyomitted from
tivator by removing oxide films from the MSDS sheets. Two of the patents list
surfaceof the coating,therebylooseningthe
specific surfactants:dodecyl benzene sul-
paint film and improvingthe penetrationof fonate and sodium xylene sulfonate. Block
the primarysolvent (Hahn and Werschulz (1991) offered the following guideline for
1986). choosing a surfactant:at acidic pHs anionic
surfactantsare generally used, often based
2.4 CORROSION INHIBITORS on sulfonicacids;at alkalinepHs nonionic or
When choosingan activatorit is necessary nonionic/cationiccombinationsare chosen.
to consider the substrateand the pigment
present. Certainmetalsare readilycorroded 2.6 CHELATINGAND SEQUESTERING
under high or low pH conditions. AGENTS
Aluminumalloys, zinc, and galvanizedsteel Water-softeningagents are often used in
are susceptible to damage from strongly aqueous-based cleaning systems to "tie up"
caustic solutions. Some pigments, such as hard water salts that may decrease cleaning

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 THE COMPOSITION OF PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS
efficiency. Chelating and sequestering
agents may also be added to aqueous or
solvent strippers to assist in the clearance of
inorganic materials such as pigments, driers,
and oxide films from the substrate. A stand-
ard chelating agent is ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Orthophosphates
and orthosilicates are the most common se-
questering agents. EDTA, tributylphos-
phate, and sodium phosphate are all listed in
the formulations in table 1.
2.7 THICKENERS
Thickeners allow the paint stripper to
remain in place on vertical surfaces. Thick-
eners also increase contact time by reducing
the rate of evaporation, thus holding the
solvent on the substrate's surface for a
longer period.
Many companies offer products in a range
of viscosities, from liquid to dense pastes.
Paintbusters' Brand ArchitecturalPaint Strip-
per, distributed by On-Site Wood Restora-
tion, claims to be the thickest. Its product
literature states, "We start with Methanol-
softened Parafin [sic] and a finned blender;
we stir in Methylene Chloride, until we
reach a saturated solution. We add wetting
agents. That is all. No thinners, no buffers,
no stringy thickeners, no volatile solvents."
It is recommended that paint strippers
thickened with wax be applied in a heavy
layer with a single pass of the brush. When
the wax forms a skin it holds the solvents in
place. Brushing back and forth disrupts this
skin and causes the solvents to evaporate.
Although wax is a common thickener, it
tends to separate over time. Most organic-
based paint strippers use cellulose-based
derivatives as gelling agents. Materials such
as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose offer
higher stability with the solvents.
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47
Cellulose-based gelling agents hydrolyze
at high or low pHs, thus becoming ineffec-
tive. For those paint strippersthat are for-
mulatedat pH extremes, a common thick-
ener is fumedsilica.
2.8 COLORANTS
Colorants may be added for marketing
purposesor to make it easierto locate those
areaswhere the stripperhas been appliedto
the substrate. These colorantsare generally
not listed on the MSDS sheets, as they are
usuallyintroducedin smallerconcentrations.
The only specificreferencesto a colorantin
the formulationsin this articleare red dye in
U.S. Patent#1,752,358 andpossiblycalcium
carbonatein Morton Paint Co. Paint Strip-
per (see table 1). It is also possiblethat the
calciumcarbonatemay have been addedas a
bulkingagent.
2.9 ALKALINEAND ACIDIC STRIPPERS
If an ionic reaction is the primary
mechanismfor paint removal,the stripperis
no longer classifiedas cold solvent but is
consideredeitheralkalineor acidic.Alkaline
strippersare at least as important for in-
dustrialpurposesas cold solvent. Alkaline
cleanerswork by producinga solution con-
taininghydroxideions thatbreakdown con-
taminantsby attachingto them. Common
reactionsare the saponificationof the fatty
acid portion of the vehicle or the breaking
of ester linkages. Alkalinestrippersare the
oldest known types of strippers (Sizelove
1972). Until recently causticsoda or potash
were used almostexclusively. Later,alkalis
such as soda ash and sodium silicateswere
mixed in for a smootherstrippingjob.
Alkaline cleaners are currently viewed as
the most viable, broad substitute for
halogenated solvents used in degreasing
JAIC 32(1993):43-57
48 THOMASWOLLBRINCK

TABLE 1
PAINT STRIPPER FORMULATIONS
The paintstripperformulationslistedbelow arereproducedas they are statedin the MaterialSafety
Data Sheet (MSDS),patent,or productliteraturesource. Someingredientsmayhave been omitted
from the productliteratureas a proprietary
privilegeor excludedfromthe safetysheetsbecausethe
toxicityis below OSHA'sHazardCommunication Standard.
ALM Monetheylamine 10%
Oakite Products Furfurylalcohol < 10%
(Hahn and Werschultz1986) Tibutylphosphate <5%
Sodium hydroxide <1%
Dow Chemical DOWANOL PM glycol ether (propyleneglycolmethylether) 50%
GraffitiRemover DOWANOL DB glycol ether (diethyleneglycolbutylether) 30%
Formula1 Isopropanol 20%
Dow Chemical DOWANOLPMglycolether(propyleneglycolmethylether) 40%
Remover
Graffiti 30%
DOWANOLDPMglycolether(dipropyleneglycolmethylether)
Formula 2 AerotheneTT Solvent 20%
Pineoil 10%
FHS ButylCellosolve 35%
OakiteProducts Formicacid 15%
(HahnandWerschulz1986) Mixedaromatics 10%
ketone
Diisobutyl 10%
Dodecylbenzenesulfonicacid
acid
Hydrofluoric <5%
Formby'sPaintRemover Methylenechloride >80%
Thompson and Formby,Inc. Ethyleneglycol monobutylether <10%0/
(MSDS) 2-Propanol >5%
Methanol <4%
Miranol ChemicalCo., Inc. Water 63%
Heavy Duty PaintStripper Potassiumhydroxide 30%
(MSDS) Sodium gluconate 4%
MirawetASC (surfactant) 3%
MiranolChemical Co., Inc. Sodium hydroxide 50%
Gel Rust Remover Water 39%
(MSDS) Sodium gluconate 6%
Miranol S CONC 4%
Versene 100 1%
Morton Paint Co. Methylenechloride 75-85%
AircraftStripper Ammoniumhydroxide 1-5%
(MSDS) Toluene 1-5%
Isopropylalcohol 5-10%
Methyl alcohol 1-5%
V. M. and P. naptha 1-5%
Morton Paint Co. Methylenechloride 65-70%
PaintStripper Xylene 5-10%
(MSDS) Isobutylalcohol 5-10%
Calciumcarbonate 5-10%
Ammoniumhydroxide 1-5%

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 THE COMPOSITION OF PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS 49

MortonPaintCo. Methylene chloride 65%

PaintStripper
(Aerosol) Isobutane/Propane 15%
(MSDS) Isopropylalcohol 10%
SolventforWaxSol. 5%
Deionizedwater 5%
MS-111 Methylene chloride 85%
ChemicalCo.
Miller-Stephenson Phenol 10%
(HahnandWerschulz1986) Formicacid 5%
Surfactant <1%
Old MastersTM-4 (a) Methylenechloride 70%
MasterProductsInc. Toluene 10%
(MSDS) Mineralspirits 5%
Synasol 5%
Methanol <5%
Methylethylketone <5%
andLiquid
Oops-Aerosol Aromatic distillates
petroleum 40-57%
New York Bronze Powder Co. Xylene 10-15%
(MSDS) Ethylalcohol 9.5-13.5%
Methyl chloroform 8-12%
Toluene 1-3%
LP-GasBlend(aerosol) 0-30%
Paintbusters'Brand Methylenechloride
ArchitecturalPaintStripper Paraffinwax
On-Site Wood Restoration Methanol
(productliterature) Wetting agents
ParksFurnitureRefinisher Acetone 15-45%
ParksCorp. Methanol 15-35%
(MSDS) Isopropylalcohol 15-35%
Toluene 15-35%
8
Quick-Strip chloride
Methylene 60%
Mitchell-Bradford
ChemicalCo. An acid
(HahnandWerschulz1986)
Red Devil chloride
Methylene 30%
PaintandVarnish
Remover#77 Toluene 30%
ThompsonandFormby,Inc. Methanol 20%
(MSDS) Acetone 20%
Red Devil Methylenechloride 29%
Paint and VarnishRemover #99 Toluene 29%
ThomsponandFormbyInc. Methanol 9.5%
(MSDS) Acetone 9.5%
S-26 Methylenechloride <50%
EnthoneInc. Phenol <20%
(HahnandWerschulz1986) Formicacid <5%
(a)Master Products, manufacturerof Old Masters brand paint stripper,included the
on the MSDS: This product contains a chemical or chemicals following notice
subject to the reporting requirements
of section 313 and Title III of the SuperfundAmendments and Reauthorization Act of
1986 and 40
CFR Part 372. This notification must not be detached from the
MSDS; and any copying or
redistribution of the MSDS shall include copying and redistributionof this notice.

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50 THOMASWOLLBRINCK

SafestStripper Water
3M Dimethyl adipate
(MSDS) Dimethylglutarate
Hydratedmagnesiumaluminum
Silicate
(formulationis 95%volatile)
Savogram Methylenechloride >80%
H20FF Paintand VarnishRemover Methanol < 10%
(MSDS) Toluene <3%
Paraffinwax <2%
Savogram Acetone >28%
Finish Off Methanol >25%
(MSDS) Acetophenone <20%
Toluene < 19%
>4%
Mineral.spirits
Paraffinwax <4%
Savogram Toluene >25%
Kutzit Methanol <25%
Paint and VarnishRemover Methylenechloride >24%
(MSDS) Acetone >24%
Paraffinwax <2%
Savogram Methylenechloride >75%
#1 IndustrialRemover Methanol <15%
(MSDS) Oxalicacid <10%
Paraffinwax <2%
Savogram Methylenechloride >75%
#2 IndustrialRemover Methanol < 15%
(MSDS) Oxalicacid < 10%
Toluene <2%
Paraffinwax <2%
Methylenechloride >80%
Savogram
#5 IndustrialRemover Methanol <10%
(MSDS) Toluene <3%
Paraffinwax <2%
Methylenechloride >88%
Savogram
#7 IndustrialRemover Methanol <10%
(MSDS) Paraffinwax <2%
Toluene >35%
Savogram
Strypeeze(semipaste) Methanol <25%
(MSDS) Acetone <25%
Methylenechloride > 10%
Paraffinwax <5%
Methylenechloride >80%
Savogram
Methanol <10%
SuperStrip
(MSDS) Toluene <3%
Paraffinwax <2%

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 THE COMPOSITION OF PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS 51

Servistar,PaintStainand Varnish Methylenechloride 80%

Remover (MSDS) Proprietarysolvents 20%
Zip-Strip Methylenechloride 80%
StarBronze Co. Ethanol <10%
(MSDS) Mineralspirits 5%
Methanol <4%
U.S. Patent #1,036,946 to John Wilson Benzol (benzene) 299 parts
(1910) Acetone or methylalcohol 299 parts
Phenol 68 parts
Paraffin 34 parts
U.S. Patent#1,185,641 Coal-tarnaptha 35 parts
to C. Ellis (1916) Benzyl alcohol 30 parts
Benzyl acetate 25 parts
Phthalicmethyl ester 10 parts
U.S. Patent#1,657,323 Benzol (benzene) 50 parts
to Leo Simon (1928) Acetone 50 parts
Solution of chicle or balata 50 parts
Alcohol 25 parts
Wool grease 20 parts
U.S. Patent #1,700,491 Formula1
to JamesGravell(1929)
Cresylicacid 55 parts
Sulfuricacid 10 parts
Formula2
Cresylicacid 55 parts
Sulfuric acid 10 parts
Butyl alcohol 10 parts
Formula3
Cresylicacid 55 parts
Trichlororethane 25 parts
Sulfuricacid 10 parts
Butyl alcohol 10 parts
U.S. Patent #1,744,463 Water 700 parts
toJames Gravell(1930) Sodiumhydroxide 250 parts
Cresylicacid 70 parts
U.S. Patent #1,752,358 Denaturedalcohol 16 parts
to O. G. Winzer Oil of turpentine 2 parts
Benzol (benzene) 2 parts
Oil of wintergreen 1 parts
Red dye 0.1 parts
U. S. Patent #1,865,799 Benzol (benzene) 50 parts
to C.J. Stowie (1932) Alcohol 25 parts
Acetone 10 parts
Nitric acid 10 parts
Monopole oil 5 parts
Yellow beeswax 1 parts

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52 THOMAS WOLLBRINCK

U. S. Patent #1,974,744 Acetone 35 parts

to G. Klinkenstein(1934) Diethyl phthalate 20 parts
Ethyl acetate 15 parts
Alcohol 10 parts
Benzol 10 parts
Oxidized pine oil 4 parts
U. S. Patent #2,207,967 Toluol (toluene) 361.5 parts
to W. Bland and E. Oeffinger(1940) Acetone 177 parts
Denaturedalcohol 170 parts
Ceresinwax 16.5 parts
Beeswax 16.5 parts
Calciumstearate 11 parts
U. S. Patent #3,072,579 Methylenechloride 18 parts
to K. W. Newman (1963) Trichloraceticacid 10 parts
o-Cresol 10 parts
Water 8 parts
U. S. Patent #3,335,087 Dichlorethane 85%
to J. Keers (1967) Phenol, naptha,or cresol 8%
Hydrofluoricacid 4%
Crudescalewax 3%
U. S. Patent #3,391,084 Methylenechloride 71%
to E. York (1968) Methanol 6%
Sodium alkylsulfonate 5%
Monoethanolamine 4.1%
Ethylene glycol monobutylether 4%
Water 3.1%
Sodiumphospahte 2.2%
Ethylenediaminetetra-aceticacid 2%
Butyl alcohol 1.1%
Paraffinwax 0.4%
U. S. Patent #3,391,085 Methylenechloride 60%
to J. T. Crockett (1968) Phenol 19%
Water 11%
Formicacid 7%
p-Toluene sulfonicacid 3%
U. S. Patent #4,732,695 SC100 (naptha) 50%
to R. Francisco(1988) Benzyl alcohol 30%
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 17%
CalsoftF-90 (dodecylbenzenesulfonate) 1%
Monoethanolamine 1%
Klucel 1%

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 THE COMPOSITIONOF PROPRIETARYPAINTSTRIPPERS
metal and electronic components. D'Ruiz
(1991) states that alkaline cleaners can be
formulated and used with appropriateclean-
ing equipment to remove virtually any or-
ganic or inorganic contaminants currently
removed by chlorinated solvents. One less
scientific example of this process is the use
of oven cleaner as a paint stripper. Plastic
model enthusiasts often use oven cleaner to
remove enamel paint from completed kits.
(This technique is not recommended by the
author.) Oven cleaners tend to be a mixture
of a strong base, surfactants,and a thickener.
Acidic strippers are nearly as old as the
alkaline type (Sizelove 1972). At first they
consisted simply of concentrated solutions of
sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids or
combinations thereof. Weaker acids or buf-
fered acid solutions now provide greater
versatility. Acidic strippers operate through
chemical destruction by either oxidation or
dehydration of the vehicle and, at times, of
the pigments as well. These strippers are
commonly used to remove rust and scale,
but they can be used to remove oxides, flux
residues, corrosion products, and tarnish
films (D'Ruiz 1991). Acidic strippers are
generally difficult to work with, as they
readily attack most substrates. However,
mildly acidic strippers may be a better alter-
native on aluminum substrates, a metal sus-
ceptible to etching by highly alkaline agents.
2.10 EMULSION CLEANERS
Emulsions combine the cleaning abilities
of solvent and aqueous cleaners and tend to
be used for the removal of organic con-
taminants. The effectiveness of the emul-
sion depends on the choice of solvents and
surfactant. Emulsions generally are recom-
mended for cleaning applications where ex-
treme pH (greater than 12 or less than 5)
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53
cannot be tolerated (D'Ruiz 1991). Com-
mon organic solvents used in emulsion
cleaners include alcohols, ethers, or
chlorinated hydrocarbons.
3. RECENT INNOVATIONS
Organic solvents that function as weak acids
and bases may offer the best alternative to
chlorinated hydrocarbons. One promising
substitute is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, which
has proven capabilities as a solvent for a
wide variety of polymers. At least one
patent has been issued for a paint stripper
including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as a major
ingredient (Francisco 1988).
West (1991) suggests that a formulation
based on the dimethyl esters of mixed acids,
such as adipic or succinic, may produce a
slower-acting or more specific paint remover
that may be effective for art conservation
purposes. He states that the dimethyl esters
are available through DuPont Company.
The introduction of dimethyl esters may be
the most exciting recent innovation in the
paint stripper industry. 3M has recently
begun marketing a product, Safest Stripper,
that lists water, dimethyl adipate, and
dimethyl glutarate as its primary ingredients.
A positive review of this product has been
published (Capotosto 1989).
Dumond Chemicals markets a series of
paint strippersunder the product name Peel-
Away. In this system the paste is applied to
the substrate and then covered by a fibrous
laminated cloth. The cloth is designed to
slow the rate of solvent evaporation and
assist in clearance. When the stripping job
is finished, the cloth is removed with the
paint and paste adhering to it. The substrate
is then washed and neutralized. The techni-
cal data supplied by Dumond Chemicals on
the different Peel-Away strippers was not
JAIC32(1993):43-57
54 THOMASWOLLBRINCK
specific enough for inclusionin the formula
listingsat the end of this report. Peel-Away
1 is alkalinebased (sodiumhydroxide)and
formulated for interior and exterior paint
removal. Peel-Away 4 is acid based and
designedfor use on a cementitioussubstrate.
Five of the Peel-Awayseriesare cold solvent
stripperswith specificmention of methylene
chloride in two of the products. Recently,
Peel-Away 6 has been introduced;this "safe
remover"employs both dimethylestersand
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.
Richard Wolbers, associate professor at
the University of Delaware,has introduced
varnish remover systems based on organic
solvents gelled in a water-soluble,
polyacrylic acid resin (Carpobol Resins,
manufacturedby BF Goodrich Industries).
These water-soluble resins require an ac-
tivator selected from a group consistingof
cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants,
simple organicbases, or combinationsthere-
of in an aqueous solution. Examples of
suitable simple organic bases include
isopropanolamine,triethanolamine,diethan-
olamine,and monoethanolamine.Surfactant
types include polyoxyethylene (15)
cocoamine and bis (2-hydroxyethyl)
cocoamine (EthomeenC/25 and Ethomeen
C/12, manufacturedby Akzo Chemicals
Inc.). These solvent-basedsystemsmay be
engineeredto remove specificcoatingsor to
not react with a specific type of substrate.
The patentoffersa more detaileddescription
of the principlesbehindthese systems(Wol-
bers 1991).
5. CONCLUSIONS
While the primaryingredientin the majority
of hardwarestore-typestrippersis methylene NOTES
chloride, commercial paint strippers contain
a wide variety of components, including
JAIC 32(1993):43-57
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primaryand co-solvents, activators,thick-
eners, wetting agents, chelating and se-
questeringagents, corrosioninhibitors,and
colorants. For art conservationpurposes,
methylene chloride is often not a safe or
effective material. Fortunately,alternatives
to methylene chloride based strippershave
recently been introduced for home use.
Promisingsubstitutesinclude strippersutiliz-
ing dimethyl esters and N-methyl-2-pyr-
rolidone. The generaleffectivenessof these
new materialshas not yet been fully deter-
mined, but some may prove useful for
problemsfacedby those workingin the field
of artconservation.
In other instancesit may be beneficialto
formulatepaint strippersfor specific usage.
Researchwith the objective of assessingor
modifying pre-existing paint stripper for-
mulationsoffers the potentialfor very posi-
tive results. It is hoped that this articlewill
offer a startingpoint for continuedresearch
on this subject.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following deserve special thanks: the
companieswho respondedto my inquiries,
especially William Block (ICI Industries)
and Wayne West (Thompsonand Formby);
Nancy Pollak, who supplied some of the
patents; the Intermuseum Conservation
Laboratoryand the NationalEndowmentfor
the Arts, which allowed the resources for
this project; Janet Schrenk, Tom Caley,
Janet English,Helen Mar Parkin,andJean-
nine Love, who reviewed this article; and
RichardWolbers,who introducedme to the
subjectand advisedwith this project.
1. Martens (1974) rated the efficiency of
chlorinated solvents with respect to the time re-
 THE COMPOSITION OF PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS 55

quired to wrinkle a standardoleoresinous film. In Hahn, W., and P. O. Werschulz. 1986. Evalua-
general, the efficiency of a chlorinated solvent tion of alternativesto toxic organicpaint strippers
decreases as the chlorination or the chain length Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agen-
of the organic radical increases. No further infor- cy (PB 86-219 177/AS). September. 1986.
mation is given about the experimental design.
Kirk, R.E., and D. F. Othmer, eds. 1968. En-
He arrived at the following rating:
cyclopediaof chemicaltechnology,2d ed. New York:
Methylene chloride 100
Chloroform 69 John Wiley and Sons. 485-90.
Ethylene dichloride 45 Kirk, R. E., and D. F. Othmer, eds. 1985. En-
Trichloroethylene 36 cyclopediaof chemicaltechnology,3d ed. New York:
Monochlorobenzene 36 John Wiley and Sons. 762-66.
Carbon tetrachloride 24
Martens, C. 1974. Technologyof paints, varnishes,
o-Chlorobenzene 22
and lacquers.Huntington, N.Y.: Robert Krieger
Propylene dichloride 15
Trichlorobenzene 10 Publishing Company. 613-18.

2. Methanol is the most widely used co-solvent.
If more than 4% methanol is used, the remover
must be identified as poisonous on the container.
Methanol, a low molecular weight polar solvent,
has a strong activating effect and adds to the
versatility of the remover (Kirk and Othmer
1985).
3. Amines, e.g., 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethanol,
are not as corrosive as acids and prevent con-
tainer corrosion by scavenging hydrochloric acid
which is released by the decomposition of
Mazia, J. 1979. The organic corner-strippers at
the crossroads. MetalFinishing 77:57-61.
Ringel, S. 1989. How to remove plastic com-
pounds, coatings, and adhesives from electronic
products. Electronic 35:28-31.
Manufacturing.
Sizelove, R. 1972. Paint stripping updated. In-
dustrialFinishing48:44-52.
West, W. 1991. Personal communication. Tech-
nical Service Quality Control Manager,
Thompson and Formby, Inc., Olive Branch, Miss.

methylene chloride (Kirk and Othmer 1985). Wolbers, R. 1991. Varnish removing composi-
Amines may discolor wood or react with copper tion and methods of using the same. U.S. Patent
or cadmium surfaces (Martens 1974). #4,986,936.

REFERENCES OTHER SOURCES

Block, W. 1986. Organic finishing today: Update
on paint stripping. Plating and SurfaceFinishing
73:16-17.
Block, W. 1991. Personal communication. Re-
search chemist, ICI Industries, St. Paul, Minn.
Capotosto, R. 1989. Super safe paint stripper.
PopularMechanics 166:148.
D'Ruiz, C. 1991. Aqueouscleaningas an alternative CanadianConsumer16:19-26.
to CFC and chlorinatedsolvent basedcleaning. Park
Ridge, N.J.: Noyes Publications. 41-42.
Francisco, R. 1988. U.S. Patent #4,732,695.
Borns, H. 1982. Here's a brush cleaner that
works for all paints. PopularMechanics155:116-19.
Cryogenic stripping of paint from hangers. 1986.
IndustrialFinishing 62:34.
Dry stripping nips coating removal woes. 1987.
Design News 43:39.
Fletcher, M. 1986. Paint and varnish removers.
Flick, E. 1989. Advancedcleaningproductformula-
tions--Household,industrial,automotive.Park Ridge,
N.J.: Noyes Publications.

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56 THOMAS WOLLBRINCK

Gladstone, B. 1988. Take it all off: Boatkeeper's
guide to paint and varnish removers. MotorBoat
and Sailing 161:75-77.
Hand, J. 1984. Easier strippers? Popular Science
224: 94-95.
Jorczyk, E. R. 1969. What you should know
about paint strippers. IndustrialFinishing 45:28, Rte. 30 N., Amsterdam, N.Y. 12010
31.
Powdered paint removers: An alternative to sol-
vents. 1982. ConsumerReports 47:333-34.
Miller-Stephenson Chemical Co., Inc.
George Washington Hwy., Danbury, Conn.
06508
Mitchell-BradfordChemical Co.
P.O. Box 169, Wampus La., Milford, Conn.
06460
Mohawk Finishing Products
Morton Paint Co. (U.S. Chemical and Plastics
Co.)
P.O. Box 6208, Canton, Ohio 44706

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1990. MetalFinishing 88: 36-40.
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SOURCES OF MATERIALS
Akzo Chemicals, Inc.
8201 W. 47th St., McCook, Ill. 60525
BF Goodrich-Specialty Polymers Division
6100 Oak Tree Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44131
Dow Chemical USA
Midland, Mich. 48640
Dumond Chemicals, Inc.
1501 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10036
Dynaloy, Inc.
7-T Great Meadow La., Hanover, N.J. 07936
Enthone, Inc.
P.O. Box 1900, New Haven, Conn. 06508
Kwick Kleen Industrial Solvents, Inc.
P.O. Box 905, Dept. T4, Vincennes, Ind. 47591
3M
6043 Hudson Rd., Ste. 290, Woodbury, Minn.
55125
Master Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 274, Orange City, Iowa 51041
Miranol Chemical Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 436, 68 Culver Rd., Dayton, N.J.
08810
East Corey St., Scranton, Pa. 18505
Oakite Products, Inc.
Valley Rd., Berkeley Heights, N.J. 07922
On-Site Wood Restoration
Parks Corp.
P.O. Box 5, Somerset, Mass. 02726
Pyrock Chemical Corp.
5-40 45th St., Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
Savogram
P.O. Box 130, Norwood, Mass. 02062
Star Bronze Co.
P.O. Box 2206, Alliance, Ohio 44601-0206
ServistarCorp.
P.O. Box 1510, Butler, Pa. 16003
Thompson and Formby, Inc.
P.O. Box 667, 10136 Magnolia Dr., Olive
Branch, Miss. 38654
THOMAS WOLLBRINCK is an assistant paint-
ings conservator at the Intermuseum Laboratory,
Oberlin, Ohio. He accepted this position after
completing a two-year National Endowment for
the Arts Fellowship in paintings conservation at
the Intermuseum Conservation Laboratory. He
received a master of science degree in art conser-
vation from the University of Delaware in 1990.
His third-year internship was spent at the Pen-
nsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He held
other conservation internships at the Detroit In-
stitute of Arts, the conservation studio of Rick
Strilky, and the Pomerantz Institute. He received

JAIC32(1993):43-57

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 THE COMPOSITION OF PROPRIETARY PAINT STRIPPERS 57

a B.A. in studio art from St. Louis University that

was completed on scholarship at the Pennsylvania
Academy of the Fine Arts. He undertook further
studies in art history at the Art Institute of
Chicago and in chemistry at Roosevelt Univer-
sity. Address: 136 North Main St., Oberlin, Ohio
44074.

Received for review February 1, 1992. Revised

manuscript received July 20, 1992. Accepted for
publication October 29, 1992.

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