Mixing
Why does Lavender melt plastic?
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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 the first fraction in a clear plastic vial. Within a day the vial had become cloudy looking (like frosted glass - the lavender oil itself was not cloudy - just the container). After a week this had happened:
The whole top of the container has been eaten away and is now flexible where before it was rigid.
What's caused this, is it expected behaviour?
Is there anything I should consider before using the lavender oil in fragrances and soaps?
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry containers
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
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asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
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up vote
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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 the first fraction in a clear plastic vial. Within a day the vial had become cloudy looking (like frosted glass - the lavender oil itself was not cloudy - just the container). After a week this had happened:
The whole top of the container has been eaten away and is now flexible where before it was rigid.
What's caused this, is it expected behaviour?
Is there anything I should consider before using the lavender oil in fragrances and soaps?
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry containers
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
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 the first fraction in a clear plastic vial. Within a day the vial had become cloudy looking (like frosted glass - the lavender oil itself was not cloudy - just the container). After a week this had happened:
The whole top of the container has been eaten away and is now flexible where before it was rigid.
What's caused this, is it expected behaviour?
Is there anything I should consider before using the lavender oil in fragrances and soaps?
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry containers
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 the first fraction in a clear plastic vial. Within a day the vial had become cloudy looking (like frosted glass - the lavender oil itself was not cloudy - just the container). After a week this had happened:
The whole top of the container has been eaten away and is now flexible where before it was rigid.
What's caused this, is it expected behaviour?
Is there anything I should consider before using the lavender oil in fragrances and soaps?
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry containers
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry containers
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
edited 2 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
6,30311243
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
asked 4 hours ago
Greedo
1092
1092
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
1
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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3
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Based on appearance and extent of deformation, your bottle is likely made of PVC plastic which is not compatible with oils. Plastic bottles are made from blow molding. This process leaves residual stress in the polymer chains of the materials but creates a smooth and transparent surface. Lavender oil can diffuse into PVC and make it softer. Once it is softer, the polymer chains can relax some of the residual stress which makes the surface rough and as a result appear cloudy due to increased scattering. Given Long enough more lavender oil can penetrate the plastic and soften it to the point that the plastic is allowed to flow which causes the observed deformation of the top.
Now I cannot say with certainty it was PVC that your bottle was made from, but if it was, then plasticizer would have seeped into the oil which isn't great for people. If you want to use your oil for air freshener or candles that is fine but I would not recommend it for skin contact applications.
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Based on appearance and extent of deformation, your bottle is likely made of PVC plastic which is not compatible with oils. Plastic bottles are made from blow molding. This process leaves residual stress in the polymer chains of the materials but creates a smooth and transparent surface. Lavender oil can diffuse into PVC and make it softer. Once it is softer, the polymer chains can relax some of the residual stress which makes the surface rough and as a result appear cloudy due to increased scattering. Given Long enough more lavender oil can penetrate the plastic and soften it to the point that the plastic is allowed to flow which causes the observed deformation of the top.
Now I cannot say with certainty it was PVC that your bottle was made from, but if it was, then plasticizer would have seeped into the oil which isn't great for people. If you want to use your oil for air freshener or candles that is fine but I would not recommend it for skin contact applications.
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Based on appearance and extent of deformation, your bottle is likely made of PVC plastic which is not compatible with oils. Plastic bottles are made from blow molding. This process leaves residual stress in the polymer chains of the materials but creates a smooth and transparent surface. Lavender oil can diffuse into PVC and make it softer. Once it is softer, the polymer chains can relax some of the residual stress which makes the surface rough and as a result appear cloudy due to increased scattering. Given Long enough more lavender oil can penetrate the plastic and soften it to the point that the plastic is allowed to flow which causes the observed deformation of the top.
Now I cannot say with certainty it was PVC that your bottle was made from, but if it was, then plasticizer would have seeped into the oil which isn't great for people. If you want to use your oil for air freshener or candles that is fine but I would not recommend it for skin contact applications.
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Based on appearance and extent of deformation, your bottle is likely made of PVC plastic which is not compatible with oils. Plastic bottles are made from blow molding. This process leaves residual stress in the polymer chains of the materials but creates a smooth and transparent surface. Lavender oil can diffuse into PVC and make it softer. Once it is softer, the polymer chains can relax some of the residual stress which makes the surface rough and as a result appear cloudy due to increased scattering. Given Long enough more lavender oil can penetrate the plastic and soften it to the point that the plastic is allowed to flow which causes the observed deformation of the top.
Now I cannot say with certainty it was PVC that your bottle was made from, but if it was, then plasticizer would have seeped into the oil which isn't great for people. If you want to use your oil for air freshener or candles that is fine but I would not recommend it for skin contact applications.
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
Based on appearance and extent of deformation, your bottle is likely made of PVC plastic which is not compatible with oils. Plastic bottles are made from blow molding. This process leaves residual stress in the polymer chains of the materials but creates a smooth and transparent surface. Lavender oil can diffuse into PVC and make it softer. Once it is softer, the polymer chains can relax some of the residual stress which makes the surface rough and as a result appear cloudy due to increased scattering. Given Long enough more lavender oil can penetrate the plastic and soften it to the point that the plastic is allowed to flow which causes the observed deformation of the top.
Now I cannot say with certainty it was PVC that your bottle was made from, but if it was, then plasticizer would have seeped into the oil which isn't great for people. If you want to use your oil for air freshener or candles that is fine but I would not recommend it for skin contact applications.
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
answered 3 hours ago
A.K.
6,30311243
6,30311243
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Greedo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Greedo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Greedo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
4 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
3 hours ago