Correction fluid

A correction fluid is an opaque, white fluid applied to paper to mask errors in text. Once dried, it can be written over. It is typically packaged in small bottles, and the lid has an attached brush (or a triangular piece of foam) which dips into the bottle. The brush is used to apply the fluid onto the paper.

Before the invention of word processors, correction fluid greatly facilitated the production of typewritten documents.

One of the first forms of correction fluid was invented in 1951 by the secretary Bette Nesmith Graham, founder of Liquid Paper. An inspiration would have been nail polish.

Thinner

Because it contains organic solvents (volatile organic compounds), unused correction fluid thickens over time as volatile solvents escape into the air. It can become too thick to use, and sometimes completely solidifies. Therefore, some manufacturers sell also bottles of solvent as "thinner", a few drops of which will return the correction fluid to its original liquid state.

Thinner originally contained toluene, which was banned when it was shown to be carcinogenic. Later, it contained 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, a skin irritant now widely banned under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, and then the slightly safer trichloroethylene. Thinners currently used with correction fluid include bromopropane.

To avoid the inconveniences of organic solvents (safety and availability), some brands of fluid are water-soluble. However, those have the disadvantages of a longer drying time, and incompatibility with some inks (which will soak through them).

Abuse as an inhalant

Organic solvents are psychoactive when deliberately inhaled. Such solvents are common inhalants for adolescents due, in part, to the fact that they are inexpensive in comparison to other recreational drugs. Use of correction fluid as an inhalant can cause the heart to beat rapidly and irregularly, which can cause death. An unpleasant smell is added to some brands in order to deter abusers

Correction pens

More recently, correction fluid has become available in pen form; the pen is spring loaded and, when dabbed onto the paper, releases a small amount of fluid. Compared to the bottled form, the pen allows a more even and thin application, and is less prone to drying out (since only a tiny surface is exposed during application) or clogging.

Famous brands

Correction fluid is commonly referred to by the leading brand names. These brands include:

• Liquid Paper
• Wite-Out
• Tipp-Ex
• White Away
• Twink
• Pentel correction pen.

Generally, "Liquid Paper" and "Wite-Out" are used in the United States, Canada and Australia, while "Tipp-Ex" is used in Europe. Twink is the leading brand, and colloquial term, for correction fluid in New Zealand. In the US, White-Out and in the United Kingdom, Tipp-Ex are used widely as a colloquialism for correction fluid, and is probably the more prevalent term. In the English-speaking Caribbean the term "White-paper paste" is used.

Many brands offer "original" and "solvent free" (water-soluble) varieties, along with colored varieties for use on colored paper.

See also

• Correction paper
• Correction tape

External links

• http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blliquid_paper.htm