DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:02:34 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Ray Mainer <rmainer**At_Symbol_Here**GMAVT.NET>
Subject: Unknown hazardous chemical
I read all the emails on this topic last night and woke up this morning
at 3 AM thinking copper naphthanate. It has been used as a wood
preservative since forever and it would make sense for a utility to have
many barrels of it around. They may have been treating poles or such
with it. Copper naphthanate was dissolved in petroleum naphtha, often
dyed green, and sold to consumers as "Cuprinol".
The low boiling point is odd. A barrel full of liquid with a boiling
point of 27C would burst if left in the hot sun. The solvent is also
nonflammable so it must not be naphtha. I am guessing that this product
was used to pressure treat wood that was going to be in contact with the
ground and the low boiling solvent assured the evaporation of the solvent.
Ray Mainer
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