Cracking Tube

[Matt Strader]

I've read some stuff about fluid, cracking the plastic tubes. To what degree, I'm not sure, but a crack is a crack, right? Any damage sucks.

My question is, why does the fluid crack some peoples but not others? Could this be a manufacturer issue?

It just seems like, if pineapple flavored fluid from Joe Blow, cracks Suzy Q's tank, than the same fluid would crack everyones tank who uses that flavor, right? Not just hers, and a hand full of others.

Any thought?

Maybe this has been discussed already, and I apologize if it has.

 

[Renzuli]

Welcome , and yes , there are several juices out there , that tent to crack the plastic tubes . That being said , not all tubes are made of the same plastic . Some are more impervious to the juices , and thankfully , most juice suppliers will warn that particular juices , should only be used in glass or metal tubes .

 

[Caridwen]

Here's a very comprehensive list.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-crack-tanks-ce2s-clearos-2.html#post4115601

No clue why some people have issues and other's don't. I vape a lot of citrus and never had issues. Other's have.

**Scroll through that thread, it's been updated many times.

 

[Baditude]

Here's a very comprehensive list.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-crack-tanks-ce2s-clearos-2.html#post4115601

No clue why some people have issues and other's don't. I vape a lot of citrus and never had issues. Other's have.

**Scroll through that thread, it's been updated many times.

Thanks for supplying the link, Caridwen. The most up-to-date list is here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-crack-tanks-ce2s-clearos-33.html#post8158663

The plastic that is in question is polycarbonate. It is found in nearly all of the clearomizers and the older, cheaper cartomizer tanks that have a clear plastic tube. When in contact with certain chemicals, it undergoes a physical breakdown of its structure causing it to crack, slowly leach chemicals into the juice, or actually melt within minutes.

My first and only experience witnessing this was after filling a clearomizer with some new strawberry lemonade. Within 5 minutes the clearomizer had literally melted in my hands. From that point on, I used only juice delivery devices that use the frosted polypropylene plastic, pyrex glass, or stainless steel tanks. And since the metal cartomizers use no polycarbonate, they are safe to use with these flavors, too.

These so-called clearo-killers or tank-cracker juices are not harmful to vape, despite people's ignorance to the contrary. It is simply a chemical reaction between a specific plastic and the ingredients used in some juice flavors.

I'm quite certain everyone has had a Coke. Well, what is the most often used solvent to dissolve the crud off of a battery terminal. You guessed it. Just because soda reacts with the crud on a battery terminal does not mean it is doing the same to your stomach.

The plastic polypropylene is safe to use with the volatile flavors. You can visually determine if the tube material is polypropylene by observing if it has a frosted, not clear, appearance.

Polypropylene dct tanks. Note the frosted appearance of the tubes.



Edit: Just an added note. Even the more expensive cartotanks are still being sold with polycarbonate tubes. Just because a device is expensive, don't assume that the manufacturer is using the better material of pyrex glass tubes.

 

[Caridwen]

Well there ya go Baditude! My tanks are polypropylene! I mostly use attys but I have one pv hooked up with my DIY lemon in a tank.

I have used my DIY lemon and pineapple in clearos a few times with no issue. But I just use them as flavor testers. Not long term vaping so I definitely don't recommend it.

 

[Matt Strader]

What's the difference between polycarbonate, and polypropylene?

Seems like the PG would break down the polypropylene, faster.