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I didn't do much good in my books but I went searching on the web
for methylated spirit and methyl hydrate.
I was only partly right. Here is what I found:
methylated spirit:
Synonyms: meths, denatured alcohol
The composition of this material varies between countries, and even within countries. The principle component is:
ethyl alcohol (ethanol, CAS 64-17-5, >60%, usually 90%), and this is denatured (in other words, made unsuitable for drinking) through the addition of small quantities of
methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK, CAS 108-10-1, typically <10%), or
methyl alcohol (methanol, CAS 67-56-1, typically <10%)
Generally a further chemical is added to give the product an unpleasant taste. Often this is
bitrex (trace),
and a dye of some kind is sometimes added to indicate the product is not for drinking, such as
fluorescein (trace),
with the balance (<10%) being water.
The safety hazards of the product are predominantly those arising from ethanol and the primary minor component, MIBK or methyl alcohol, which can be assumed to act virtually independently.
Methanol - prepared by a reaction between carbon dioxide and Hydrogen. It is poisonous and because of the small size of the molecule - it will pass through an organic vapor respirator. Synonyms are methyl alcohol and wood alcohol (because it used to be prepared from the burning of wood and distillation of the vapor.) In Canada and Britain is called methyl hydrate.
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So they are NOT the same but I still think you can use either one for
cleaning brake hydraulic internal parts. If you can get strong enough
white lightning (188 proof) that will work fine (but some would say that
it is a waste to use it that way).
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma
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