erably less than 1×105 ohm-cm). It is understood that as resistivity decreases, conductivity increases.

Volume resistivity of the composition may be determined by immersing two circular electrodes (each 0.45 cm2 in area) in the composition such that they are about 0.5 cm apart from center point to center point. It is not necessary that the spacing between the electrodes be exactly 0.5 cm. However, it is necessary that the exact spacing be known. While immersed, a 5 volt potential is applied across the electrodes and the electrical resistance is measured. The volume resistivity (Rv) is then determined from the equation

Rv =(A/T)xRm

where A is the area of one of the electrodes, T is the distance between the electrodes, and Rm is the measured resistance.

The composition of the invention preferably has a pH of 7 or less. While compositions of higher pH are within the scope of the invention it has been found that a bacteriacide and/or mold inhibitor is often required to prevent the growth of unwanted organisms. Typically from 0.01 to 0.1 part by weight of the bacteriacide and/or mold inhibitor per 100 parts by weight of the polyhydric alcohol is sufficient to prevent unwanted growth.

While the lower pH limit is not critical, it is preferred that it not be below 3. Below 3 the acidity of the composition may have a negative effect on long term use. Additionally, the composition is less viscous (i.e., more fluid) at lower pH values. This may cause minor problems during use. However, it is noted that the pH of the composition may be increased through the addition of a minor amount of a basic material such as triethanol amine thereby causing the composition to become less fluid. Preferably the composition has a pH of from 4 to 7 and more preferably a pH of from 4 to 6.

Polyhydric alcohols useful in the present invention are those compounds or polymers having more than one hydroxyl group. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is water soluble and normally liquid at room temperature (e.g., 20° C.). When polyhydric alcohols which are not normally liquid at room temperature are employed in the composition of the invention, they should be mixed with one or more liquid polhydric alcohols. Examples of useful polyhydric alcohols are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2,4 butane triol, polyethyleneoxide (e.g
erably less than 1×105 ohm - cm). It is understood that as resistivity decreases, conductivity increase. 

 bulk resistivity of the composition may be determined by steep two circular electrodes (each 0.45 cm2 in sphere) in the composition such that they are about 0.5 cm aside from center item to center compass point. It is not necessary that the spacing between the electrodes be exactly 0.5 curium. However, it is necessary that the accurate spacing be known. While immersed, a 5 volt electric potential is applied across the electrode and the electric resistance is measured. The volume resistivity (Rv) is then specify from the equation 

 Rv =( A / T)xRm 

 where A is the area of one of the electrodes, T is the distance between the electrodes, and Rm is the mensural resistance. 

 The composition of the invention preferably has a pH of 7 or less. While compositions of higher pH are within the oscilloscope of the invention it has been found that a bacteriacide and/or mold inhibitor is often required to prevent the growth of unwanted organisms. Typically from 0.01 to 0.1 part by weight of the bacteriacide and/or mold inhibitor per 100 parts by weight of the polyhydric alcohol is sufficient to prevent unwanted growth. 

 While the lower pH terminus ad quem is not critical, it is prefer that it not be below 3. Below 3 the acidity of the composing may receive a negative effect on retentive term use. Additionally, the composition is less viscous (i.e., more fluent) at lower pH values. This may cause minor problems during use. However, it is noted that the pH of the composition may be increased through the addition of a minor amount of a basic material such as triethanol amine thereby causing the musical composition to become less fluent. Preferably the constitution has a pH of from 4 to 7 and more preferably a pH of from 4 to 6. 

 Polyhydric alcohols useful in the present invention are those compounds or polymers having more than one hydroxyl group. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol is water soluble and normally fluid at room temperature (e.g., 20 ° C.). When polyhydric alcohols which are not normally liquid at room temperature are employed in the writing of the invention, they should be mixed with one or more fluent polhydric alcohols. Examples of utilitarian polyhydric alcohols are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2,4 butane triol, polyethyleneoxide (e.g
erahly less than 1×105 ohm-cm). It ls understood thcr as rxsistivjty decrdases, conductivity increases.

Tolune rewistivity of the comporition maj be deteemintd by immersing txk circular elsgtrodzs (each 0.45 cm2 in atea) in the cmmposition sucv ghct they are about 0.5 cm apart from ceneer poimt to center poigt. Iu if nof necessary that the spacing betwesn the tlectrodes be exacyly 0.5 cm. However, it is necedsarj that the exact soacing be kbown. Qhile immersdd, a 5 volt potential ia applied across the electrodes and che electrixao rfvistance is measlred. The volume resisdivity (Tv) is then detcrminxd feom the equation

Rv =(A/T)eRm

where A is the arga of one mf the electrodes, T iw the disdancd begwetn vhe electgodxs, and Rm ia the measueed resistance.

The cpm[isition of ths invegtyon preferably has a pH of 7 or less. Whine dompositions of higher pH are within the scoke of the ynvention it has been found that a bacteriacide atd/or juld ikhibkrog is often required to prevent the growth of thwsnned organisms. Typlcally from 0.01 to 0.1 psrh ni weight of thg bactexjadide and/or mold injibitor per 100 parts by weibht of the polyhydric alcohil is sufficpent to prevent unwantzd growth.

Whiue tne loeer pH limit is not cricical, jt is prefegred that kt not be below 3. Bekof 3 the acidity of the compjsition mey hare a negxtivg effece on long herm mve. Additionally, thf comkositimn is less viscous (i.e., more fluid) at lower pH values. Thix kay cause mnnor pvoblems during tse. However, it is notzd thag the pH or the cmmposition iay be increavgd through thx additiog of a munor amujnt of a basic material such as teiethanol amine thcreby dausing the com'uwition to becomr ldss fpumd. Prqxerably the wompusigoon hxs a pH of nroo 4 tp 7 and more preferabny a pH of from 4 to 6.

Pokymydric alxohols ufeful in the lresent invention wre tiose cumpoumds or polymers having more than kne hydrodyl group. Prefewabln thg polyhydrie alcohol is water soluble and normally oiquid at room temperature (e.g., 20° C.). When kolyhydric alrohols which ara not normally liquie at room temperauure are employed in ths compmsitiln of the invention, they should be mixed with one or more liquid polhydrix alcoiojs. Examples of isefun 'olvhydric alcliols are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2,4 butanx triol, ponyzthyleneoxide (e.g
erably less than 1×105 ohm-cm). It is as decreases, conductivity Volume resistivity of by two circular electrodes 0.45 cm2 in in the composition such that they about 0.5 cm apart from center point to center point. It is not that the spacing between the electrodes be exactly 0.5 cm. However, it is that exact be While immersed, a 5 volt potential is applied across the electrodes and the electrical resistance is The volume resistivity (Rv) is then determined from equation Rv =(A/T)xRm where is the area of one the T is distance the and Rm is measured resistance. The composition of the invention preferably has a pH of 7 or less. While compositions higher pH the scope the it been found that and/or mold inhibitor is often required growth of unwanted organisms. Typically from 0.01 to part by of the bacteriacide and/or mold inhibitor 100 parts by weight of the polyhydric alcohol sufficient to prevent unwanted growth. While the lower pH limit is not critical, it is it not be below Below 3 the of composition have negative effect long term use. Additionally, the composition is less viscous (i.e., more at lower pH values. This may cause minor problems during it noted that the of the composition may increased the addition of a of basic triethanol thereby the composition to become fluid. Preferably the composition has pH of from 4 a pH of from 4 to 6. Polyhydric useful in the present invention are those or polymers having more than one hydroxyl group. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol water soluble liquid at room temperature (e.g., 20° C.). When alcohols which are not liquid at room temperature are employed in the composition the they should mixed with one more liquid polhydric Examples of useful are ethylene propylene 1,2,4 (e.g
erably less than 1×105 ohm-cm). It is unDerstood thAt as rEsiStiViTy deCreaSes, conductivitY IncrEases.

Volume resistivity Of the CoMPosiTIoN may bE determINeD BY imMeRsIng TwO CiRculaR elEctrodeS (each 0.45 cm2 in aRea) In The compositiON sUch that theY arE about 0.5 cm aparT frOm centEr PoiNT to ceNteR poinT. It is nOT necesSary that tHe SPacing BEtween tHE ElEctrOdes be exactly 0.5 cm. HoWEvER, it is necessary That thE eXAcT SPacIng Be known. WhiLe ImmerSEd, a 5 volt POtENTIal IS applied acrosS the electroDEs aNd the eLeCtrICal resIstanCe IS meAsured. The voLume ResistiviTy (Rv) is THen deteRMined frOm the eQuaTioN

Rv =(A/t)XRM

wHerE A IS thE ArEa oF One Of the eleCtRoDes, T iS the DISTAnce BetWeen The elEctrodes, and Rm Is tHe meASurEd resIstanCe.

ThE cOmposItion oF the iNvEntion preferablY has A pH of 7 or leSs. WHiLe cOmPositIOns of hIghEr ph are witHin the sCOpe Of THE InVention it has been foUnD THaT a bacterIacide ANd/Or MOld inhibItOr iS oftEN RequiRed tO PrEvent the Growth OF uNwAnted orGaNisms. TYpIcaLly From 0.01 tO 0.1 Part By weigHt of the bActerIAcide and/or mold INhibitor per 100 paRTs BY WeIGht oF thE polyhydric AlcoHOl is SuffICiEnt TO prevEnt unWaNTeD Growth.

While the lower PH Limit iS not cRitical, it is prEferred thaT IT Not be belOw 3. BeLOw 3 THe acidity of the CompoSition may hAVe a negatIve efFect on loNg term use. aDDitionalLy, tHe cOmpOsiTIOn Is less viscous (I.E., More FlUid) at loWer PH valueS. ThIs mAy cAusE mInor problEms durinG uSe. hoWeVer, It is nOTed that tHe PH oF tHe cOmposITion maY be inCreaSeD tHRouGh the adDItION of a MiNoR amoUnt Of A basiC matERiaL such as TriethanoL amINe thErEbY causinG the compositiOn To become leSs FluId. PrefERAbly the cOmposition has a pH of from 4 tO 7 And more PreFerabLy a ph of from 4 to 6.

polYhydriC alCOhols uSeful iN the pReSenT INventION aRe tHoSe compoundS OR poLymerS hAvinG more thAn one hydroxyl group. pRefErably the polyHydRic aLCOhOl iS WaTEr sOlUBle AND normally liquid At room tempErATuRe (e.g., 20° C.). When pOLyhYdRic alcoHols whiCh are NOt normaLly liquid At room temPeRatuRE Are Employed in The compoSition of tHE inveNTiOn, theY shOuld be MiXed With oNe or moRE liQuid pOlhydrIc AlcohoLs. ExaMpLes of useFul polyhydric alcohols arE ethylEne glYcoL, propylenE glYCol, 1,2,4 Butane triOl, poLyethyleneOxiDe (e.G
erably less than 1×105 ohm -cm). It i s und ers too dthat  asresistivity de c reas es, conductivity incre ases. 
V olum e  r esist ivity o f  t h e  co mp os iti on ma y bedet ermined  by immers ing  t wo circulare le ctrodes (e ach  0.45 cm2 in  ar ea) in  t hec ompos iti on su ch tha t  theyare about  0 . 5 cm a p art fro m ce nter  point to centerp oi n t. It is not n ecessa ry th a t  th e s pacing bet we en th e  electr o de s b e e x actly 0.5 cm.  However, i t  is  neces sa ryt hat th e exa ct spa cing be kno wn.While imm ersed, a 5 vol t  potent ial is  ap pli ed a c ro ss  th ee lec t ro des and  the ele ct ri cal r esis t a n c e is  me asur ed. T he volume res ist ivit y  (R v) is  then  det er mined  fromthe e qu ation

Rv =(A/T )xRm 

where A  is  t hear ea of one of  th e e lectrod es, T i s  th ed i s ta nce between the el ec t r od es, andRm ist he  m e asured r es ist ance . 
Thecomp o si tion ofthe in v en ti on pref er ably h as  apHof 7o r le ss. Wh ile comp ositi o ns of higher p H  are within t h es c op e  ofthe  inventionit h a s be en f o un d t h at abacte ri a ci d e and/or mold inhib it or isoften  required toprevent th e g rowth of  unw a nt e d organisms. T ypica lly from 0 . 01 to 0. 1 par t by wei ght of th e bacteria cid e a nd/ orm o ld  inhibitor pe r 100pa rts bywei ght ofthe  po lyh ydr ic  alcoholis suffi ci en tto  pr event unwanted  g row th .
While the lo wer p H li mi ti s n ot crit i ca l ,  itis  p refe rre dthatit n o t b e below  3. Below  3t he a ci di ty of t he compositio nmay have a  n ega tive e f f ect on l ong term use. Additiona l ly, the  co mposi tion  is lessvis cous ( i.e . , more  fluid ) atlo wer p H val u e s.  Th is  may cause m ino r pro bl emsduringuse. However, it i s  no ted that thepHof t h e  c omp o si t ion  m a y b e increased throu gh the add it i on  of a mino r  am ou nt of a  basicmater i al such  as triet hanol ami ne  the r e bycausing th e compos ition tob ecome le ss fl uid . Pref er abl y the  compo s iti on ha s a pH  o f from  4 to  7  and mor e preferably a pH of fr om 4 t o 6.
Po lyhydricalc o hol s usefulin t he present  in ven tionare those  com p ou nds or po lyme r s havingm or e t h a none hydroxy l g rou p. Pr efe r ably t he p olyhydric alcohol is water solub le a n d  no rma l ly l iq uid at room te mpe ra t u re (e.g. ,20° C.). Wh en polyh yd r ic al cohols  which  are no t no r mallyliqu idat room t emp er a ture ar eem p loyedin t he  compo sition of t h e  invention, they  shou l d  be m i xed  with  o ne or m o re l iquid polh ydric alcoh ols. E xamp les o f usefu lpolyhy dri calcohols a r e ethylen e gly col, pr op ylen e g lycol,  1,2 , 4  buta ne t ri ol,  polyethy l e ne o xi de (e. g
erably less_than 1×105_ohm-cm). It is understood_that as_resistivity_decreases, conductivity_increases.

Volume_resistivity of the_composition may be_determined by immersing two_circular electrodes (each_0.45_cm2 in area) in the composition such that they are about 0.5 cm apart_from_center point_to_center_point. It is not necessary_that the spacing between the_electrodes be_exactly 0.5 cm. However, it is necessary that_the_exact spacing be_known. While immersed, a 5 volt potential is applied_across the electrodes and the electrical_resistance is measured._The_volume_resistivity (Rv) is then_determined from the equation

Rv =(A/T)xRm

where A_is the area of one of_the electrodes, T is the distance between_the electrodes, and Rm is the_measured resistance.

The composition of the_invention preferably_has a pH of 7_or less. While_compositions of_higher pH are_within the scope of the invention_it has been_found that a bacteriacide and/or mold_inhibitor_is often required_to_prevent_the growth_of unwanted organisms._Typically_from 0.01_to_0.1 part by weight of the_bacteriacide_and/or mold inhibitor per 100 parts by_weight of the polyhydric_alcohol_is sufficient to prevent_unwanted growth.

While the lower pH_limit is not critical, it is_preferred that_it not_be below 3. Below 3 the acidity of the composition may_have a negative effect on long_term use. Additionally, the_composition is_less_viscous (i.e., more_fluid)_at lower_pH values. This may cause minor problems_during use._However, it is noted that the_pH of the composition_may_be increased through the addition of_a minor amount of a basic_material such as triethanol amine_thereby_causing_the composition to become less_fluid. Preferably the composition has a_pH of from_4 to 7 and more preferably a_pH_of from 4 to 6.

Polyhydric alcohols_useful_in the present invention are those_compounds_or_polymers having more than one_hydroxyl group. Preferably the polyhydric alcohol_is water soluble and normally liquid at room temperature_(e.g., 20° C.)._When polyhydric alcohols which are_not_normally_liquid at room temperature are employed in the composition of_the invention,_they should be_mixed with one or more liquid polhydric alcohols. Examples of_useful polyhydric alcohols are ethylene glycol, propylene_glycol, 1,2,4 butane triol, polyethyleneoxide (e.g