**Historical Significance of Pine Tar:**
– Used in Scandinavian nations for wood preservation.
– Key export from Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholm tar).
– Essential for preserving rope in maritime activities.
– Significant export for American colonies.
– North Carolinians nicknamed Tar Heels due to involvement in the tar industry.
**Applications of Pine Tar:**
– Historically used on Nordic-style skis for preservation.
– Widely used in veterinary care as an antiseptic and hoof care treatment.
– Applied on chickens to prevent pecking wounds.
– Used in the rubber industry as a softening solvent.
– Utilized in treating and fabricating construction materials.
**Wood Preservation with Pine Tar:**
– Combined with gum turpentine and boiled linseed oil for wood preservation.
– Initial application with a high turpentine mixture allows deep penetration.
– Requires continuous reapplication for effectiveness.
– Tar weeps out of treated wood, indicating areas needing attention.
**Pine Tar in Maritime and Rope Preservation:**
– Traditional rope tarred with pine tar for preservation.
– Used to prevent rotting of hemp ropes exposed to rain.
– British Navy seamen referred to as tars due to handling tarred ropes.
**Pine Tar in Baseball and Other Industries:**
– Applied on baseball bat handles for grip enhancement.
– Major League Baseball rules restrict its application.
– Used illegally by pitchers for improved grip.
– Derived from pine sap and used in various industries.
– Environmental impact includes over-harvesting concerns and the need for sustainable sourcing.
Pine tar is a form of wood tar produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood in anoxic conditions (dry distillation or destructive distillation). The wood is rapidly decomposed by applying heat and pressure in a closed container; the primary resulting products are charcoal and pine tar.
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Other names
Pine tar oil, Wood tar oil
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| Identifiers | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.029.429 |
| EC Number |
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| KEGG | |
PubChem CID
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| Appearance | Blackish-brown viscous liquid |
| Density | 1.01–1.06 |
| Boiling point | 150 to 400 °C (302 to 752 °F; 423 to 673 K) |
| Slightly | |
| Solubility | alc, chloroform, ether, acetone, glacial acetic acid, fixed/volatile oils, solutions of caustic alkalies |
| Pharmacology | |
| Topical | |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Warning | |
| H317, H412 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 90 °C (194 °F; 363 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Pine tar consists primarily of aromatic hydrocarbons, tar acids, and tar bases. Components of tar vary according to the pyrolytic process (e.g. method, duration, temperature) and origin of the wood (e.g. age of pine trees, type of soil, and moisture conditions during tree growth). The choice of wood, design of kiln, burning, and collection of the tar can vary. Only pine stumps and roots are used in the traditional production of pine tar.[citation needed]
Pine tar has a long history as a wood preservative, as a wood sealant for maritime use, in roofing construction and maintenance, in soaps, and in the treatment of carbuncles and skin diseases, such as psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. It is used in baseball to enhance the grip of a hitter's bat; it is also sometimes used by pitchers to improve their grip on the ball, in violation of the rules.