Mixing
Why does lavender oil dissolve plastic?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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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
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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Greedo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |Â
up vote
3
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
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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
7 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
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
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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
everyday-chemistry polymers food-chemistry
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
edited 6 mins ago
Mithoron
3,60482744
3,60482744
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
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 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
asked 7 hours ago
Greedo
1192
1192
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
7 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
7 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
7 hours ago
Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
7 hours ago
1
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
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 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
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 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
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 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
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 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
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 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
answered 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
answered 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
answered 6 hours ago
A.K.
6,39511245
6,39511245
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
2
2
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
"Isn't great for people" is a euphemism for "toxic, probably carcinogenic, but hopefully there's not too much of it", I take it?
– wizzwizz4
1 hour ago
1
1
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 more like "has effects including but not limited to toxic, probably carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor but hopefully not at the current level"
– A.K.
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
@wizzwizz4 Plasticiser is used to lower PVCs Tg (80°C) so it becomes rubbery at RT. A solid vial, even if made of PVC, would not contain plasticiser. Otoh PVC typically contains a lot of processing aids and other stuff. Anyway all plastic bottles are made via blow molding, and all plastics are likely to plasticise and yield if exposed to unpolar solvents.
– Karl
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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Obviously some component of the lavender oil seeped into the plastic causing the plastic to soften.
– MaxW
7 hours ago
1
You do realize that "lavender oil" isn't a single chemical but a mixture.
– MaxW
6 hours ago
@MaxW That indeed seems obvious, and I'm sure OP is aware that that's what happened. They're asking why.
– only_pro
11 mins ago