Can you use Methyl Alcohol to remove thermal compound?

[wofat18]

I've heard that you should use 99% Isopropyl instead, but I don't have any on hand and I live in a pretty rural area. Is it okay to use this instead?

Thanks

 

[Blazingsattle]

I would not use it as it is flammable.

 

[nathanstrainrocks]

NO! It will leave a residue that will compromise future thermal paste.

 

[Blazingsattle]

Well I guess rubbing alcohol is as well, but still the chemical compounds are different so there are probably some key differences. Now, ethyl alcohol is a kind of alcohol with an ethane functional group attached to a hydroxide ion. It is oftentimes called ethanol, its IUPAC name. They are not the same. See, rubbing alcohol is most of the time Isopropyl alcohol, meaning it is propane with a hydroxide (OH) ion attached to the number two carbon.

If you are talking about this alcohol, then they are not the same. They have different melting point, boiling point, molecular weight. etc.

 

[Saberus]

I would not use it as it is flammable.

All alcohols are flammable.

As long as it's pure methanol, it will work just fine. Make sure the surface is fully dry before applying fresh paste.

 

[Blazingsattle]

Yes I know xD I instated that in my second answer my bad haha

 

[Blazingsattle]

Methanol At room temperature, it is a polar liquid, and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol. It is also used for producing biodiesel via transesterification reaction. Methanol lacks the Antiseptic trait that is in Ethanol

 

[Blazingsattle]

Which Antiseptic destroys microorganisms found on non-living objects.

 

[Saberus]

Alcohol is not being used as an antiseptic here, it's being used as a solvent. It will serve as an adequate solvent for thermal compound, and it is still volatile enough to evaporate quickly.

Even water can serve as a solvent, it's just it takes much longer to dry and even the slightest amount of impurity makes water conductive which is why it's avoided in electronics. Alcohols are non-conductive.

 

[Blazingsattle]

*claps* Good game Saberus 😀.