Charcoal and pine tar are used as coatings to preserve and seal wood, prevent rot, and discourage mold and insect infestation. They are also used in baseball, shipbuilding, and skin care products.
Originating centuries ago, charcoal and pine tar are used as a base for coatings that preserve and act as a water-repellent sealant. Manufacturers often create tar-based products for the construction or marine industry. The substance also has a special place in baseball and is a common ingredient in skin care products.
Naturally sticky and waterproof, the brown to black liquid is a common ingredient in products for sealing outdoor wooden decks and roofs. The resin hardens, appears shiny and becomes impervious to moisture. Combined with polymers or silica, charcoal or pine resin it could also be used as a protective coating on aluminium, concrete, steel or wood. Tar products can be applied to the exterior or interior of pipelines or wastewater, storage and water tanks.
Used alone or in combination with paint, charcoal, or pine resin, tar protects wood surfaces indoors and out from rot from exposure to the elements. It also discourages mold growth and insect infestation. Lumber industries commonly pressure treat wood with creosote, which is made using coal tar or pine tar.
Some shipyards continue to use the tar to coat the exteriors of ships. Although builders build ships with steel more often than with wood, the surfaces still require protection from fresh and salt water. Painted steel surfaces also corrode and rust, and layered coal-tar epoxies protect ship structures. Sailors also use the products to coat ropes and cords, preventing the fibers from fraying and rotting in harsh conditions.
Baseball players improve their grip on the bat by applying the sticky liquid. They could also apply tar to baseballs, which not only improves grip on the ball but also alters its spin when thrown. Players generally keep a layer of sticky paste on their helmets or gloves. The substance is permitted by baseball regulatory agencies.
Before the invention of modern antibacterial ointments, tar’s uses included topical preparations, made in many homes, designed to prevent infection. For centuries, farmers and ranchers have used resin salves and ointments on livestock for open wounds or hoof dressings. Livestock and tack shops still sell these veterinary products.
Over-the-counter and prescription salves, salves, and shampoos often contain charcoal or pine tar to treat dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis. The substance frequently resolves the scaling, itching and scaling associated with these ailments by aiding in the removal of dead skin layers. These preparations also smooth and soften the skin, slowing the cycle of drying, skin death, and cell replacement.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
