DO NOT BE ALARMED. I AM NOT A CHEMIST. TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF salt.
I think I've figured out what's happening to clog atomizers. Under the right conditions (I can't reliably replicate them) you can get "propylene glycol" e-liquid to polymerise in the presence of glycerine. It forms a kind of sludge that looks like what I've seen in pics of the 'bad' JC eyedroppers. I think the trouble with replcating this is that triggering radical polymerisation is a bit hit and miss.
I got this result, by the way, with pure glycerine (not the JC liquid) along with a different (non-JC) e-liquid. I am not sure why it would polymerise, but I do have a suspicion. I don't want to be alarmist: I am not a chemist, but it would be good to get one to figure out what's happening.
A precursor in one method of PG production is propylene oxide (according to the toxology report - known carcinogen, LC50 for inhalation in mice is 1740 ppm/4hr hehehe - let's hope I'm wrong.) In the presence of glycerine it can form a long chain polymer. (This is a well known reaction. Eg. Polypropylene glycol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) I'm pretty sure JC have glycerine in their PG as well as NPG liquid, whereas the other supplier - same factory for the rest isn't it - doesn't. From what I can see, moving from PG back to PO is a little tricky so my guess is that some sources of PG have not been completely converted from PO, but as I said - I'm not a chemist. hehehe - take it with a grain of salt.
Does anyone know of another polymerisation reaction that might be occurring? BTW: this happened in the presence of stainless steel, covered by a white vinegar solution if you want to try it. (Was cleaning something with a bunch of different solutions in it the first time, and was curious what this stuff coming out was.) I could get it to occur a few times, but not reliably.
I might keep trying to find a replicable method, but I'm tempted just to stop using PG liquid entirely to be on the safe side. BUT DO NOT BE ALARMED. I would love for a chemist to clear this up.
I think I've figured out what's happening to clog atomizers. Under the right conditions (I can't reliably replicate them) you can get "propylene glycol" e-liquid to polymerise in the presence of glycerine. It forms a kind of sludge that looks like what I've seen in pics of the 'bad' JC eyedroppers. I think the trouble with replcating this is that triggering radical polymerisation is a bit hit and miss.
I got this result, by the way, with pure glycerine (not the JC liquid) along with a different (non-JC) e-liquid. I am not sure why it would polymerise, but I do have a suspicion. I don't want to be alarmist: I am not a chemist, but it would be good to get one to figure out what's happening.
A precursor in one method of PG production is propylene oxide (according to the toxology report - known carcinogen, LC50 for inhalation in mice is 1740 ppm/4hr hehehe - let's hope I'm wrong.) In the presence of glycerine it can form a long chain polymer. (This is a well known reaction. Eg. Polypropylene glycol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) I'm pretty sure JC have glycerine in their PG as well as NPG liquid, whereas the other supplier - same factory for the rest isn't it - doesn't. From what I can see, moving from PG back to PO is a little tricky so my guess is that some sources of PG have not been completely converted from PO, but as I said - I'm not a chemist. hehehe - take it with a grain of salt.
Does anyone know of another polymerisation reaction that might be occurring? BTW: this happened in the presence of stainless steel, covered by a white vinegar solution if you want to try it. (Was cleaning something with a bunch of different solutions in it the first time, and was curious what this stuff coming out was.) I could get it to occur a few times, but not reliably.
I might keep trying to find a replicable method, but I'm tempted just to stop using PG liquid entirely to be on the safe side. BUT DO NOT BE ALARMED. I would love for a chemist to clear this up.