Ethyl alcohol performs similarly to isopropyl alcohol for removing thermal compounds.
Ethyl alcohol performs similarly to isopropyl alcohol for removing thermal compounds.
He mentioned a lot of wrong information. Isopropyl works best and is affordable for this use, though ethanol (not vodka) is better. Just let it dry for a few minutes before applying fresh paste again. When others mention "ethanol" here, they usually mean vodka, which isn't suitable.
Actually I meant CH3OH. Ethyl alcohol is the trade name. Ethanol is what it truly is. You can purchase fresh ethanol easily, as it should closely match the 96% concentration they mention. It’s not recommended to store it unused for a week. Commercial ethanol is usually produced from various materials, with corn (maize) being the most common source—often the main focus in news reports. It’s rarely made from scratch. Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, is created synthetically. The sole natural ingredient in it is propene, which has been extinct for millions of years. In short, some impurities are always present in any process. Often in ethanol, it’s ketones and esters that contribute to its taste, while in isopropyl alcohol, sulfur is more common. Both substances can absorb humidity from the air if left unattended, though the quantities are small during production and even smaller during use. I favor isopropyl mainly because it’s affordable and readily available in high purity. Ethanol is a bit trickier to obtain in that quality unless you have access to a chemical supply store. By the way, while you can use it, typical rubbing alcohol only needs to reach 70% purity, which can be either ethyl or isopropyl depending on the brand.
Use high-purity isopropyl alcohol at 99% concentration mixed with 1% water for optimal cleaning results.