All Questions
Tagged with everyday-chemistry polymers
48 questions
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How to remove color from bromostyrene/dibromostyrene
Distillation under low heat can remove color (excess bromine) but this is time consuming and there is a danger of bromostyrene polymerization even with added TBC.
In aqueous, sodium thiosulphate can ...
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What is that substance coming from tractor tire?
I have old tractor with Bridgestone tires. When I press a clean white tissue against the tire, a black spot show on the tissue. Is that substance carbon black and it’s harmful to soil?
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Does lithium grease damage plastics such as ABS & PBT?
I have read that petroleum-based greases damage plastics due to the petroleum-derived nature of most plastics. However, I have seen lithium grease being used in electronics such as the gears in CD ...
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1
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Can large, sticky, sodium polyacrylate crystals be coated in a powder to facilitate handling?
I am separating a larger container of sodium polyacrylate crystals into smaller containers for student experiments. Commonly known as "Deco Cubes" and used by florists in decorations and ...
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What is the difference between PEF and PTF bioplastics?
I am trying to research single use plastics replacements, and wanted to explain how PEF and PTF are a good choice. Although as I am researching I can't find clear information about them, also how they ...
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Hazards of eating non-stick coating, particularly considering the coating primer [closed]
How unhealthy are teflon / non-stick coating chips that end up eaten? What role does the primer coating play?
Existing similar threads that don't go into enough detail: 1, 2
I understand that there is ...
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Hair styling gels and 'liquid gels' - effect of formulation / composition on viscosity and performance [closed]
[Disclaimer: I am aware that this is a very 'first-world problem', 'light-hearted' kind of question, given the health crisis we are still going through. Just to avoid offending anyone, here's an easy ...
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Is Polyethylene Glycol always derived from Ethylene Glycol? If not, how does it differ?
I have heard Polyethylene Glycol is derived from Ethylene Glycol, so was doing some research to see how they differ and found this.
Now this states that:
Polyethylene glycol is produced from the ...
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Solvent + Photopolymer Waste Disposal
I have a 3L jug of SLA printer-related waste that's been sitting under my desk for a while now and I'd really like to finally figure out how to get rid of it. It contains:
Ethanol (primarily) and ...
- 1,162
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Chemical to dissolve rubber/latex glove
I seem to have a drain pipe in my flat blocked by what seems to be a latex/rubber glove. I am unable to pull it out — is there a chemical that can reliably dissolve the glove and at the same time not ...
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How can I solubilize fragrance oil into polyvinyl acetate/clear glue?
I'm a high school student who makes slime for fun, using polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue and borax as my main ingredients.
Earlier, I had the idea of adding fragrance oils to clear glue. However, because ...
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Why fibres are strong only in one direction? [closed]
Why fibres are strong only in the direction they are oriented?Why they break if we pull at right angle to their orientation?
Here each blue line represents combination of polymeric chains.
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What does it mean "polyester doesn't breathe"?
Often people say buy a cotton shirt because cotton "breathes" but polyester doesn't. (i.e. it makes you hot sweaty).
What is the scientific meaning behind this? How does polyester trap the heat more ...
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How to remove the foggy discoloration in polycarbonate tubes caused by acetone?
Unknowing that the tubes used in the centrifuge are made of polycarbonate, I cleaned them with acetone. Following, a white smoky discolouration appeared and the tubes turned opaque. Is there any way ...
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1
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Hardened polyurethane remover
I've looked at the MSDS of a couple of products for removing hardened polyurethane (PU) foam. Both contained only ethanolamine as a dangerous substance, but only between 1-5%. So I'm guessing this ...
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How to align povidone-iodine molecules in order to look for optical polarization
In this answer I mention how early polarizing filters (e.g. sunglasses) were made by doping a polymer with iodine atoms and then stretching the film to orient the polymer molecules.
Electrons donated ...
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What is a "tri-salt polymer" as described by this product that eliminates and prevents mold?
This answer mentions an anti-mold product called Concrobium Mold Control. The FAQ linked on their website says:
Q: I see Sodium Carbonate listed on the label. Is Concrobium Mold Control just Sodium ...
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Can superglue (cyanoacrylite) be thinned with acetone and still harden?
I'm looking for something with an extremely low viscosity to use as a binder for cold casting iron oxide with very fine detail (it's to make a slotted winding core for an electric motor with $\pu{1mm}$...
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Why does lavender oil dissolve plastic?
A few weeks ago I decided to harvest the lavender in my garden and put it through a still to extract the essential oils. The still in question is essentially just an air cooled condenser.
I collected ...
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Lyophilization Advantage
I've been reading about freeze drying and how it increases the shelf life of certain foods and is overall a good preserving technique.
My question is with regard to the actual process. I understand ...
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Is teflon a poison if ingested? [closed]
Nowadays, a lot of frying pans are made with a non-stick coating. That's usually teflon, or chemically speaking polytetrafluorethylene - $\ce{(C2F4)}_n$. Can you be poisoned if some of that teflon ...
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Residual catalyst leaching from PETE
I am trying to look for healthy options for 5 gallon water jugs. The problem is all the plastic 5 gallon water jugs on the market are either made of #1 PETE (BPA free) or #7 (which contains BPA). It ...
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Why are regular plastic bags not smell-proof?
Due to the wide use of plastic bags as containers for almost everything in everyday life, I naturally use them to wrap and hold dirty diapers as a temporary stop before getting to throw them in the ...
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Is bamboo based plastic less likely to leak chemicals?
Some plastics have been known to leak plasticizers (bisphenol and phthalates) into the food they contain, especially when heated.
Because such compounds are suspected of being endocrine disruptors it ...
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What makes wrinkle-free cotton, wrinkle-free?
Disclaimer:
No, I don't own any "wrinkle-free" articles of clothing. So I haven't been able to observe first-hand if "wrinkle-free" clothing is totally "wrinkle- free" (if it isn't, then perhaps "...
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Is Jell-O flavored plastic?
Per this article, "Gelatin is a thermoreversible, cold-setting polymer." Further, Jell-O is flavored gelatin.
Is the phrase "thermoreversible, cold-setting polymer" equivalent to the term "plastic?"
...
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Chemical hardener to cast breastmilk into gemstones
I'm looking for a chemical hardener that I can add to breastmilk to turn it into a stone. I have seen others use one but they will not share what they are using. In their video they add about 1ml of ...
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What happens if I increase the amount of water on water based epoxies?
I am using a water based epoxy coating that is composed of a resin and a hardener. There is a specific amount of proportion to use to obtain the optimum cured coating. But I am trying to introduce ...
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Can isopropyl alcohol vapor damage polymers?
Since isopropyl alcohol is found in many cleaning products, can the vapor emanating from the isopropyl alcohol corrode, stiffen or react with polymers?
For example, if I use isopropyl alcohol to ...
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What substance(s) will prevent superglue from hardening in its tube?
Superglue often sets in the tube, so I was wondering if ethanol or even water could stop it from hardening and going to waste. Ideas, anyone?
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Can I submerge a polyester shoe underwater to wash it, and for how long?
I'm wondering if this will damage the shoe somehow. The shoe doesn't include washing instructions. My shoe actually has four materials listed, they are:
-Polyester
-Polyuretan
-Natural rubber
-Nylon
...
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What is the name of the crinkly plastic used in clear parts of envelopes?
I've always wondered what it is, as it makes a lot of noise on being deformed. No other common plastic that I've come across has quite the same properties.
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Hair Gel Derivative
I need a water-soluble, extremely fast drying adhesive gel. My first thought is hair gel.
pros:
Water Soluble (easily removed)*** most important
High viscosity in liquid form ~60 cps
Easily ...
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It is easier to iron cotton clothes when slightly wet, why?
As the title says, why is it easier to iron cotton clothes when slightly damp ? Has this got something to do with the hydrogen bonding in cotton ?
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Does freezing tights make them more durable?
Various blog posts and articles suggest that freezing a pair of tights will make them last longer.
From a blog named Eclipsed Moon:
Put your tights in the freezer.
I thought that this was ...
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Can you fix rubber on a handle after it has all but turned into a liquid?
I picked up a splitting maul at a yard sale last year. I used it for the rest of the season with no problems. It has been in the wood shed and exposed to some sun, but mostly shade.
I picked it up ...
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Do polymerized cooking oils release free radicals
I am seasoning a carbon steel wok and from what I understand it basically involves heating cooking oil on it until it gets to the smoke point and then forms a polymerized layer that makes it like a ...
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Why is gum so sticky and what chemicals make for easy removal of gum?
To give this question context, I work in a restaurant and sometimes I'm in charge of getting all of the gum off of the tables at work. Don't mind the work, but I'd be interested in hearing what makes ...
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How to dissolve a strong resin in difficult situation?
The resin is made up from two components:
Component A: silicic acid, sodium salt (less than 10% sodium silicate)
Component B: Diphenylmethane-4,4'-Diisocyanate, isomers and homologs (MDI,Polymer-MDI)...
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What is the exothermic reaction of superglue with cardboard?
I glued a sheet of paper to a cardboard package using superglue (labelled with ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate).
To my surprise the paper became very warm.
What kind of reaction is it?
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Why no thermal expansion for camping tents?
I know that solid materials expand when heated, which is called thermal expansion.
But what is happening to tent square or tent canvas of (plastic?) camping tents? I have noticed, that during the day,...
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Ethyl alcohols use on polycarbonate and acrylics
I have an interesting question about the use of ethyl alcohol on polycarbonate windshields. I have had friends asking me about the use of Pledge Multi-Surface cleaner on their windshields. Some ...
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What are the physico-chemical processes at play in ironing of clothes?
The process of ironing of clothes removes (to a large extend) the wrinkles that where introduced in the clothes while drying. Obviously this has to be some physico-chemical process that is initiated/...
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Non-hardening adhesive
I am wondering if any of you know about glue/adhesives that do not harden over time after they are applied or glue/adhesives that take a really long time to harden after application. I need the glue ...
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Does oil break down condoms?
It seems that every website on sexual health advises against using oil-based lubricants with condoms. It is claimed that "oil breaks down latex". One source claimed that a latex condom completely ...
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Why are smoke odors persistent in fabrics?
Obviously smoke is very complex, but apparently phenol compounds are the main components of wood smoke that produce the characteristic odor. (One of more significant of these compounds seems to be ...
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Why does gum get harder to chew after a while?
My Sister asked me this:
"Why is it that when we chew gum, it is soft and mushy to begin with , but slowly gets firmer and firmer like after 20 mins of chewing?"
I think it is because when we ...
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If nothing sticks to Teflon, how does Teflon stick to frying pans?
The most notable characteristic of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, DuPont's Teflon) is that nothing sticks to it. This complete inertness is attributed to the fluorine atoms completely shielding the ...
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