Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: eric2011 on 07/10/2023 17:46:42

Title: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: eric2011 on 07/10/2023 17:46:42: Hi there

What kinds or types of plastics that a nail polish remover with these ingredients can dissolve? Or melt, but i dont think is melting ratherdisolvcing.. these are the ingredients of the remover, acetone, ethyl acetate, glycerin. Thanks
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: paul cotter on 08/10/2023 12:21:26: Polystyrene.
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: Bored chemist on 08/10/2023 12:53:05: Ethyl acetate will dissolve polystyrene, but acetone will just turn it into a sticky mess.
So the answer is "it depends" unless we know how much acetone is in the mixture.
Glycerine won't dissolve any conventional plastic (though it might dissolve polyvinyl alcohol).
Acetone or ethyl acetate will dissolve cellulose acetate.

Something like this chart may help.
https://www.plasticsintl.com/chemical-resistance-chart
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: eric2011 on 10/10/2023 12:33:33: I did the experiments dissolving the types of plastics other members mentioned above but failed. I checked the chart mentioned by Bored chemist and I tried using Lye to dissolve but also failed.

Other than acetone, what other solvents can dissolve plastic to like viscouus liquid that you can pour and mold new things because where I live I dont have acces to pure acetone which seems to work as I have seen in youtube people doing so. What other solvents or tricks i can use to dissolve plastic other than heat? I will appreciate the h3ĺp
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: Bored chemist on 10/10/2023 13:16:15: It depends where you are and what you have access to.

Toluene isn't easy to find here in the UK
I gather the choice is wider in the USA.
You can dissolve polystyrene in xylene.
Polymethyl methacrylate is soluble in chloroform or glacial acetic acid.

It might be worth a look in your local DIY store to see if they have "cellulose thinner" which is a mixture but- it does the job.
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: paul cotter on 10/10/2023 13:41:52: THF, tetrahydrofuran will dissolve pvc, as far as I remember, but it may be more a case of gelling it rather than complete dissolution. Lye(sodium hydroxide) and other strong bases will only dissolve plastics that are hydrolysable such as polyester and possibly some polyamides under harsh conditions.
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: vhfpmr on 10/10/2023 14:49:04: If you don't need something that will withstand high temperatures you can mould Polymold with hot water:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=polymold+plastic&crid=3A02OUGMH77K&sprefix=polymold+plastic%2Caps%2C96&ref=nb_sb_noss
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: eric2011 on 10/10/2023 16:04:07: Thanks guys for the suggestions.

I was searching through youtube and found a guy dissolving coke bottle with sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixuture nad dissolve the coke bottle. But the coke bottle dissapear onbthe solution. Ibdont know how Ibcan recover the dissolved plastic.

Anyway, i will keep on searching for acetone and xylene I think those will be safer and bettr methods
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: Bored chemist on 10/10/2023 16:26:45: Sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide destroys things; It "burns" them to carbon dioxide and water. You can't recover the plastic.
Title: Re: What types of plastic nbail polish remover can melt?
Post by: paul cotter on 10/10/2023 18:15:15: Indeed, BC, a solution of sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is a hazardous but common cleaning solution for dirty lab glassware, known as "piranha" as it will destroy anything organic. I have found that even a mildly basic solution, ph=~9 will leak out of a coke bottle, which is made from polyethylene terephthalate(as i'm quite sure you know).