Baader Wonder Fluid

[Spec-Chum]

Not really an eyepiece question, but wasn't really sure where to put it.

Does anyone know the exact ingredients for this?

Reason I'm asking is that I almost used it last night to clean the old thermal compound from a computer CPU I was changing the cooler one.  it's recommended to use isopropyl alcohol, is that what's in this?

I never did in the end, I just used a kitchen roll and some elbow grease but wondered for future reference.

[Pete Presland]

i think its water, Propanol, and Ethanol. whatever it is it is good stuff, dry very clear unlike isopropanol.

[JamesF]

25% ethanol, 35% propan-1-ol and the remainder may just be water, from when I looked it up.

James

[Ruud]

Yes, ethanol and propan-1-ol.

You can read about it here: http://www.alpineastro.com/Reference_Docs/OW-SafetyDataSheet-P.pdf

What is best about it is the spray cap of the bottle. It sprays tiny droplets and uses the liquid very sparingly.

[Dave In Vermont]

So essentially one could go to a druggist's shop, buy some iso-propanol, then to a liquor store for some vodka. Go home and mix it together.

Voila! Home-brew of the Baader fluid for a fraction of the cost. But, of course, we would certainly prefer paying 10X more for the Baader label, right? I'm an organic chemist by training, so I know a few shortcuts to save money.

By the by, you can drink the vodka that's left over. But DO NOT drink the iso-propanol! If you did, you'd likely need to clean off your stomach-lining from the eyepiece.

Clear & Dark, Clean Skies,

Dave

[JamesF]

So essentially one could go to a druggist's shop, buy some iso-propanol, then to a liquor store for some vodka. Go home and mix it together.

As a grown-up chemist you might then be able to enlighten me...

isopropanol is propan-2-ol rather than propan-1-ol, isn't it?  But the -1- and -2- only indicate which carbon atom the OH group is attached to?  So does that make any difference to its chemical properties, or it's macro physical properties?

James

[D4N]

I wonder if industrial 99.99% IPA would work? We use this for cleaning optics at work since it's pure enough that there is no residue after it evaporates. My main concern would be dissolving coatings but if they are using propanol and ethanol anyway maybe there isn't much difference.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dave In Vermont]

James: Yes, the 1 or 2 indicate the position of the OH (hydoxyl) group on the 3-cabon chain of the molecule: C-C-C-OH replete with H's (hydrogens) would be the 1 position. With the ISO - we know the OH is on the central carbon, or 2 position.

D4N: The non-residue left following evaporation tells me it would be fine to use. Industrial-grade is what is called "technical-grade" in the laboratory world. No residue? Good enough. Cutting it with the water present in vodka would negate it's potential for dissolving coatings, which I rather doubt would be a concern even in it's pure state. But without having a full breakdown of what the coatings consist of, your prudence is well warranted.

Clear Skies & Optics,

Dave

[Spec-Chum]

Cheers guys

Still a bit confused tho, would it be safe to use for my purpose of cleaning thermal grease from aluminium/copper?

[Dave_D]

could be 100% industrial effluent for all i care but it sure did shift the complete fingerprint i accidentally put right in the middle of my IDAS D1 the other day after i forgot to put the lens cap on and picked the camera up...