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Why does alcohol crack acrylic (plexiglass)?
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Posted by
Judas Matete
Why does alcohol crack acrylic (plexiglass)?
If a solvent causes an amorphous polymer to craze, this is because the polymer is principally soluble in it. It diffuses into the surface, but without instantly dissolving it, as the polymer chains are still stuck in the glassy network of the substrate. The polymer swells (like a fruit gum in water), but the volume increase can only happen perpendicular to the surface.
The polymer chains thereby end up oriented towards the surface, weakening the structure. When the solvent dries off again, the chains adhere to each other again, but cannot reentangle in time. The surface has become thicker now, but as it is still the same amount of polymer, the additional volume is made up by the cracks and crazes appearing in it.
If a solvent causes an amorphous polymer to craze, this is because the polymer is principally soluble in it. It diffuses into the surface, but without instantly dissolving it, as the polymer chains are still stuck in the glassy network of the substrate. The polymer swells (like a fruit gum in water), but the volume increase can only happen perpendicular to the surface.
The polymer chains thereby end up oriented towards the surface, weakening the structure. When the solvent dries off again, the chains adhere to each other again, but cannot reentangle in time. The surface has become thicker now, but as it is still the same amount of polymer, the additional volume is made up by the cracks and crazes appearing in it.
According to chemical resistance of plexiglass acrylic alcohol is not as aggressive as you mention with plexiglass acrylic.
But, we have to signal that acrylics is a big family of polymers (thermoplastics or thermosets) derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds. Plexiglass is only a member of this family.
Any way, in response to your question why alcohol might cause severe crazing and cracking?
It's simply because alcohol, as a good solvent, has the ability to attack the surface of acrylics and dissolve the polymer chains.
According to chemical resistance of plexiglass acrylic alcohol is not as aggressive as you mention with plexiglass acrylic.But, we have to signal that acrylics is a big family of polymers (thermoplastics or thermosets) derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds. Plexiglass is only a member of this family.
Any way, in response to your question why alcohol might cause severe crazing and cracking?It's simply because alcohol, as a good solvent, has the ability to attack the surface of acrylics and dissolve the polymer chains.
Yes, acrylics are a wide family, but the second part of this explanation is so oversimplified it become plainly wrong.More
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The given explanation cannot be correct, because I've watched (and listened to) an acrylic glass cracking and splitting and developing leaks after pouring in a splash of bourbon. No drying out is involved. It may be simply swelling of the plastic as ethanol penetrates; this could cause cracks if the bulk of the plastic is too rigid to stretch, and can't accommodate the swelling.
The given explanation cannot be correct, because I've watched (and listened to) an acrylic glass cracking and splitting and developing leaks after pouring in a splash of bourbon. No drying out is involved. It may be simply swelling of the plastic as ethanol penetrates; this could cause cracks if the bulk of the plastic is too rigid to stretch, and can't accommodate the swelling.
Indeed. I dont think drying has anything to do with the process. I submerged a plexiglass character display in pure IPA and cracks started forming right away. When I took it out, the surface felt like rubber. After a short while it became rock hard againMore
An experimental observation deserves positive consideration, not a downvote, although this answer could have been worded a little more gently: "Perhaps the above answer is not the whole explanation." Ive seen the effect with polystyrene and some solvents, but never with acrylics - I must be more careful. I wonder if the acrylics that fail are substandard in some way.More
Definitively makes some sense. Also the solvent would relieve orientation, leading to strong swelling on one direction, and very little or none in the other.More
If a solvent causes an amorphous polymer to craze, this is because the polymer is principally soluble in it. It diffuses into the surface, but without instantly dissolving it, as the polymer chains are still stuck in the glassy network of the substrate. The polymer swells (like a fruit gum in water), but the volume increase can only happen perpendicular to the surface.
The polymer chains thereby end up oriented towards the surface, weakening the structure. When the solvent dries off again, the chains adhere to each other again, but cannot reentangle in time. The surface has become thicker now, but as it is still the same amount of polymer, the additional volume is made up by the cracks and crazes appearing in it.
If a solvent causes an amorphous polymer to craze, this is because the polymer is principally soluble in it. It diffuses into the surface, but without instantly dissolving it, as the polymer chains are still stuck in the glassy network of the substrate. The polymer swells (like a fruit gum in water), but the volume increase can only happen perpendicular to the surface.
The polymer chains thereby end up oriented towards the surface, weakening the structure. When the solvent dries off again, the chains adhere to each other again, but cannot reentangle in time. The surface has become thicker now, but as it is still the same amount of polymer, the additional volume is made up by the cracks and crazes appearing in it.
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According to chemical resistance of plexiglass acrylic alcohol is not as aggressive as you mention with plexiglass acrylic. But, we have to signal that acrylics is a big family of polymers (thermoplastics or thermosets) derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds. Plexiglass is only a member of this family.
Any way, in response to your question why alcohol might cause severe crazing and cracking? It's simply because alcohol, as a good solvent, has the ability to attack the surface of acrylics and dissolve the polymer chains.
According to chemical resistance of plexiglass acrylic alcohol is not as aggressive as you mention with plexiglass acrylic.But, we have to signal that acrylics is a big family of polymers (thermoplastics or thermosets) derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds. Plexiglass is only a member of this family.
Any way, in response to your question why alcohol might cause severe crazing and cracking?It's simply because alcohol, as a good solvent, has the ability to attack the surface of acrylics and dissolve the polymer chains.
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The given explanation cannot be correct, because I've watched (and listened to) an acrylic glass cracking and splitting and developing leaks after pouring in a splash of bourbon. No drying out is involved. It may be simply swelling of the plastic as ethanol penetrates; this could cause cracks if the bulk of the plastic is too rigid to stretch, and can't accommodate the swelling.
The given explanation cannot be correct, because I've watched (and listened to) an acrylic glass cracking and splitting and developing leaks after pouring in a splash of bourbon. No drying out is involved. It may be simply swelling of the plastic as ethanol penetrates; this could cause cracks if the bulk of the plastic is too rigid to stretch, and can't accommodate the swelling.
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