The chemical name of transformer oil is typically
mineral oil. It is a highly refined and purified form of petroleum oil, specifically chosen for its dielectric properties, which make it an excellent insulating material. Sometimes, depending on the specific formulation, it can also be referred to as
paraffinic oil or
naphthenic oil (based on the types of hydrocarbons it contains).
In some cases, transformer oils may be synthetic or based on vegetable oils, but mineral oil is by far the most commonly used.