Apple spill question

[Rasti B]

Not sure where to post this but it seems since I am a newbie this is the only place I can, if mistaken please bear with me. I promise not to be "new" for long.

So, I was mixing some liquid this afternoon (having graduated to weight over volume a couple months ago /syringes were such a PIA as was the clean-up) on my American Weigh Scales LB-501 Digital Kitchen Scale (I don't use the bowl) and accidentally suffered my first spill. Actually it was minuscule and perhaps .25ml of Inawera Apple ran down the 120 I was mixing. I noticed it immediately and tared my scale removed the bottle and went to blot up the ring of flavoring with a paper towel. To my surprise the ring seemed to be eating into the black plastic of the scale platform. I have 91% isopropyl at my mixing station and put some of that on a new paper towel and blotted again. What remains is a white ghost circular stain the size of the 120ml bottle bottom. I am not worried about the stain but am wondering what the heck is in the flavoring that would do that? I take it this is whatever some fruits contain when they are known to be tank crackers? I am going to assume that this is not particular to just this brand of flavoring but am still interested in the chemistry. - Thanks for any information on this one.

 

[BrotherBob]

If those scales are made in China, I'm not surprised. Who knows how they formalize there plastics? I would not worry, just don't spill again.
As to tank material, you get what you pay for--spend more money, generally you get better product support.

 

[Rasti B]

If those scales are made in China, I'm not surprised. Who knows how they formalize there plastics? I would not worry, just don't spill again.
As to tank material, you get what you pay for--spend more money, generally you get better product support.

Thanks for the response, I was not saying I ever had a tank crack, as all of my tank attys are glass. I am very happy with the scale it is awesome, it came with 200g standards and it does not auto shut off. I have a feeling that the flavoring would have stained any plastic scale; I was more so concerned with whatever is in the flavoring that could cause this. The isopropyl alcohol didn't discolor it and it would eat through the monitor of a pc.

 

[Completely Average]

Concentrated malic acid.

Malic acid comes from apples. It won't harm you any more than citric acid does.

 

[Rasti B]

Concentrated malic acid.

Malic acid comes from apples. It won't harm you any more than citric acid does.

Ahha! Also in strawberries and is used to whiten teeth. Puzzle solved! Thanks!

 

[suprtrkr]

I think that probably says more about the scale platform than it does the flavoring.

 

[Rasti B]

I think that probably says more about the scale platform than it does the flavoring.

Point taken!

 

[EverPresentNoob]

Go to the auto parts store. In teh aisle of glue tubes and silicone gasket junk they normally have sheets of Cork material. get one and cut it to the size and shape of your scales tray. glue it down. now if you spill again you dont have to worry about the juice eating away at your tray. and when you zero out your scale the weight of the cork will obviously be zeroed with the tray and not affect anything.

 

[Rasti B]

Go to the auto parts store. In teh aisle of glue tubes and silicone gasket junk they normally have sheets of Cork material. get one and cut it to the size and shape of your scales tray. glue it down. now if you spill again you dont have to worry about the juice eating away at your tray. and when you zero out your scale the weight of the cork will obviously be zeroed with the tray and not affect anything.

Thanks, that is a great idea. I am not as concerned with the cosmetics of the scale platform and was just somewhat concerned (more at interested) with potential solvents in the flavoring. Thanks everyone for the feedback! BTW, the room had and still has a very apple-y smell to it.

 

[suprtrkr]

Thanks, that is a great idea. I am not as concerned with the cosmetics of the scale platform and was just somewhat concerned (more at interested) with potential solvents in the flavoring. Thanks everyone for the feedback! BTW, the room had and still has a very apple-y smell to it.

AN excellent idea. Contact paper would work as well, or a piece of aluminum foil and tape.

 

[Alien Traveler]

I would not vape anything that ate plastic so fast. All excuses (about "chineseness" and low plastic quality) are just excuses.

@Rasti B : thanks for info. Now I have an interesting test for unwanted flavorings.

 

[Jdurand]

I would not vape anything that ate plastic so fast. All excuses (about "chineseness" and low plastic quality) are just excuses.


Have you tested everything you vape for its effect on plastic? Maybe you do vape something that has the same effect and just don't know it yet. Now you have a real project for the weekend! lol

 

[Rasti B]

I would not vape anything that ate plastic so fast. All excuses (about "chineseness" and low plastic quality) are just excuses.

@Rasti B : thanks for info. Now I have an interesting test for unwanted flavorings.

The only thing that is foreign to me in the juice is the 6% Inawera Apple, the other two flavorings are 5% DX Caramel (TPA) and 5% Sugar Cookie (TPA) - 3% nicotine (Nude Nic) & 25/75vga.

 

[Completely Average]

I would not vape anything that ate plastic so fast. All excuses (about "chineseness" and low plastic quality) are just excuses.

So you would not vape anything that had natural juice flavoring?

Malic Acid and Citric Acid both come from fruit. They're 100% natural. They will also react with polycarbonate plastic. They are acids, but they're also an essential component of natural fruit flavors.

 

[Alien Traveler]

So you would not vape anything that had natural juice flavoring?

Malic Acid and Citric Acid both come from fruit. They're 100% natural. They will also react with polycarbonate plastic. They are acids, but they're also an essential component of natural fruit flavors.

Citric acid does not react with polycarbonate and most other plastics. Maleic acid is also not harmful for plastics.
So, what else?
Plastics Chemical Resistance Chart | Plastics International

 

[Completely Average]

Citric acid does not react with polycarbonate and most other plastics. Maleic acid is also not harmful for plastics.
So, what else?
Plastics Chemical Resistance Chart | Plastics International

You need to do better research. Google is OK, but only if you know what you're looking for.

http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com...ments/acrylic-polycarbonate-compatibility.pdf

Polycarbonate is NOT COMPATIBLE with Citric Acid. Malic acid is an intermediate of citric acid.

http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/pla...ical_resistance_guide_polycarbonate_sheet.pdf

Concentrates are NOT recommended.

http://ilgbcatalog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PC-chemical-resistance.pdf

Resistant to citric acid, but ONLY at room temperature and ONLY at concentration levels of 10% or less.


In short, you could squeeze orange juice into a polycarbonate container at room temperature, but putting a concentrate in it or heating it above room temperature will cause failure. Feel free to try it yourself. Get some concentrated lemon juice and a polycarbonate container. Heat both to 100F and pour the concentrate into the container. See what happens. I recommend you keep towels handy.

 

[Alien Traveler]

You need to do better research. Google is OK, but only if you know what you're looking for.

http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com...ments/acrylic-polycarbonate-compatibility.pdf

Polycarbonate is NOT COMPATIBLE with Citric Acid. Malic acid is an intermediate of citric acid.

http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/pla...ical_resistance_guide_polycarbonate_sheet.pdf

Concentrates are NOT recommended.

http://ilgbcatalog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PC-chemical-resistance.pdf

Resistant to citric acid, but ONLY at room temperature and ONLY at concentration levels of 10% or less.


In short, you could squeeze orange juice into a polycarbonate container at room temperature, but putting a concentrate in it or heating it above room temperature will cause failure. Feel free to try it yourself. Get some concentrated lemon juice and a polycarbonate container. Heat both to 100F and pour the concentrate into the container. See what happens. I recommend you keep towels handy.

I am sorry, but long-term compatibility (you was searching for) is a different animal. We were talking about fast reaction (see OP).