Mineral oil is inert, which makes it easy to use. Both consumers and businesses in a range of industries use mineral oil for a variety of applications. The three sectors named above primarily use mineral oil, but it appears across a wide range of industries and applications. Here are some of the most common uses in the industrial, personal care, and food production sectors.
You can find mineral oil in many different cosmetics products including baby lotions, ointment, make-up remover, sunscreens, hair conditioner, and even tissues. Mineral oil is an ideal base material for many of these products because it is inert, colorless, and odorless. Mineral oils may appear in cosmetics as liquid oils or solid waxes.
Some kinds of mineral oils are comedogenic, meaning they clog pores. Because of this, the mineral oil used in skincare and cosmetic products is noncomedogenic and does not clog pores. In fact, cosmetics companies often describe mineral oil as having moisturizing, protective, and cleansing properties for the skin. Additionally, these oils are used to give cosmetic products film-forming and water-repellent features as well as increased firmness.
The food processing and preparation industries frequently use mineral oil. Sometimes, manufacturers add mineral oil directly to food. At other times, mineral oil assists in the production process but is not added to food directly. As mentioned earlier, all mineral oil that may come into contact with food must achieve classification as food-grade, and it must be used in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations.
Food producers use mineral oil as a:
- Binder, release agent, or lubricant in bakery products, dehydrated foods, egg white solids, and in tablets or capsules for adding nutrients, flavoring, spices, or for use as a dietary supplement
- Release agent, sealing agent, and polishing agent in confectioners
- Protective coating on raw fruits and vegetables
- Defoamer in vinegar and beet sugar production
- Dough divider
- Dust control agent for grains.
- Binder, release agent, and lubricant in the manufacturing of yeast
Mineral oil plays a role in some of the non-food products used to prepare, serve, and eat food. In these situations, the oil should also be food-grade. When applied to cookware, bakeware, and cooking utensils, mineral oil prevents food from sticking to them. People rub it onto the surface of wooden cutting boards, bowls, and utensils to prevent them from absorbing water, which can damage them. Mineral oil also prevents wood-based cooking tools from absorbing food liquids and odors, which makes cleaning easier. It acts as a lubricant for food processing equipment as well.
Industrial, mechanical, and electrical uses
Mineral oil serves to assist with various industrial, mechanical, and electrical purposes. It is an effective lubricant for industrial equipment and often functions as a processing aid. It is an element that helps make up various substances used in industrial processes, such as lubricants, greases, dyes, polymers, and surface treatment products.
Mineral oil also acts as a thermal fluid or non-conductive coolant in various electric components. In refrigerators and oil-based electric heaters, mineral oil is used as a cooling liquid. In switchgear, it serves as an insulator and a coolant to diffuse switching arcs. In the production of plastics, mineral oil is used to control the melt flow rate of finished polymer and act as a release agent.
Automotive equipment frequently uses mineral oil, primarily as a component in hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, as well as in lubricants in brake fluids and motor oil.
