Petroleum jelly

"Vaseline" redirects here. "Vaseline" is also the title of a song performed by Elastica

Petroleum jelly or petrolatum is made by refining a byproduct of oil drilling.

Vaseline is a well-known brand of petroleum jelly originally produced by Chesebrough-Ponds, which was purchased by Unilever in 1987. Vaseline has become a genericized trademark meaning petroleum jelly.

History

The raw material for petroleum jelly was discovered in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania where it was sticking to some of the first oil rigs in the U.S. The riggers hated the paraffin-like material because it caused the rigs to seize up, but they used it on cuts and burns because it hastened healing. Robert Chesebrough, a young chemist whose previous work, distilling kerosene from the oil of sperm whales, had been rendered obsolete by oil, went to Titusville to see what new materials might be created from the new fuel. Chesebrough took the unrefined black "rod wax", as the drillers called it, back to his laboratory in Brooklyn to refine it and explore its medicinal possibilities.

Chesebrough discovered that by distilling the lighter, thinner oil products from the rod wax, he could create a light-colored gel. Chesebrough patented the process of making petroleum jelly () in 1872. The process involved vacuum distillation of the crude material followed by filtration of the still residue through bone char.

Before Chesebrough could try to sell it, he had to test it to see if it really worked on cuts and burns by using himself as the guinea pig. Having demonstrated the products efficacy on himself, Chesebrough was unable to sell any to drug stores until he travelled around New York State demonstrating his miracle vaseline. Before a rapt audience he'd burn his skin with acid or an open flame, then spread the clear jelly on his injuries, showing at the same time his past injuries, healed, he claimed, by his miracle product. To further stimulate demand, he gave out free samples.

Chesebrough opened his first factory in 1870. The term Vaseline was coined, according to some accounts, as a combination of the German word for water, Wasser (pronounced Vahser), and the Greek word for oil, elaion.

Robert Chesebrough lived to the age of 96 and claimed to have eaten a spoonful of Vaseline everyday. He was such a believer in Vaseline that during a bout of pleurisy, he had his body completely covered with it from head to toe. He soon recovered.

Today, physicians have shown that Vaseline has no medicinal effect or any effect on the blistering process. Vaseline’s effectiveness is due to the coating of cuts and burns which prevents germs from getting into the wound and because it keeps moisture from evaporating from the skin.

Physical Properties

Petrolatum is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, having a melting-point usually ranging from a little below to a few degrees above 100° F (37° C). It is colorless, or of a pale yellow color, translucent, and devoid of taste and smell. It does not oxidize on exposure to the air, and is not readily acted on by chemical reagents. It is insoluble in water. It is soluble in chloroform, benzene, carbon disulphide and oil of turpentine. It also dissolves in warm ether and in hot alcohol, but separates from the latter in flakes on cooling.

Uses

Uses mentioned in Chesebrough's patent include: currying, stuffing, and oiling all kinds of leather. The finest grade of petroleum jelly is also adapted for use as a pomade for the hair. It is also used for treating chapped hands or lips, toenail fungus, and nosebleeds. Petroleum jelly may also be used as a lubricant when shaving with a razor.

Petroleum jelly was also used as a way to pitch a spitball in baseball. As of 1920, the pitch was banned.

It is not recommended for use as a safe sexual lubricant; being oil-based, Vaseline destroys the effectiveness of latex condoms. It is, however, popularly used by males as a personal lubricant.

Petroleum jelly is also smeared around the base of vending machines to prevent ants from crawling up and contaminating the candy.

Petroleum jelly can also be used as valve grease for some brass instruments and to lubricate the cork joints of larger woodwind instruments (cork grease is recommended on smaller instruments as this conditions and prevents drying of the cork).

Watchmakers use petroleum jelly as grease on friction surfaces of clocks and watches.

Variants

Carbolated Petroleum Jelly, comprised of 3% carbolic acid in a lanolin and petrolatum ointment base, was once a popular first aid application for scrapes and burns. Marketed under the name Vaseline First Aid Petroleum Jelly the brand has been discontinued. Though not available in retail stores the product can still be found on the internet. The carbolic acid gave the jelly an anti-bacterial effect.

Petroleum jelly in popular culture

In cult animated programme The Simpsons, the character Milhouse Van Houten is said to enjoy the unusual delicacy of Vaseline on toast. Also, Homer Simpson once ate an entire tub of Petroleum jelly.

The lyrics of song She Don't Use Jelly by The Flaming Lips speak of a girl who uses Vaseline when making a toast.

Artist Matthew Barney has used petroleum jelly in his performance art and for creating sculptures. For his recent film Drawing Restraint 9, he created a large oval shaped block of it and filmed its installation on the deck of a whaling ship.

External links

Safety and chemical properties

References

Unilever brands | Petroleum products | Personal lubricants