Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Acetone on Plastic Tanks (2024)

FAQs

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Acetone on Plastic Tanks? ›

Plastic is made of petroleum resin and forms in a multitude of ways to harden and solidify. When in contact with acetone, plastic will soften, deform, and ultimately break down as the acetone deconstructs the molecules.

Acetone is used as a solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, rubber, plastics, lacquers, varnishes and rubber cements.

Acetone can dissolve or degrade PS ( polystyrene ) . Explanation: you shouldn't store leftover acetone in PS (polystyrene) containers as this could compromise it and...

exposure can cause drying and cracking of the skin with redness. ► Exposure can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. ► Exposure to high concentrations can cause headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness and even passing out.

1> Plastic Compatibility: Acetone can dissolve or soften many types of plastics, especially if they are not designed to resist solvents. Common plastics like HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are more resistant, but it's still not advisable for long-term storage.

Plastic is made of petroleum resin and forms in a multitude of ways to harden and solidify. When in contact with acetone, plastic will soften, deform, and ultimately break down as the acetone deconstructs the molecules.

The acetone will damage the plastic's surface, softening it, smearing it, or even dissolving the plastic.

Although these bottles look great, they are in no way designed for strong solvents. Acetone should always be stored in HDPE bottles, away from direct sunlight with a secure cap. When acetone is stored in PET bottles, they discolour after a week and then begin to expand and eventually leak and burst.

Appropriate Containers: Keep acetone in authorized containers made of glass or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that are compatible with the chemical.

We use acetone all the time at work for bonding ABS plastic. Works great! So I've been using pure acetone from the hardware store now for a couple of months, and it seem to work great for certain things. It evaporates quicker than MEK, so it works best when you clamp something together and then apply the acetone.

What is the hidden hazard of acetone? ›

Hazards of Acetone and Classification

As such, precautions must be taken when handling and storing to avoid fires and explosions. It should also be remembered that, like the rest of the ketones, acetone is a severe eye irritant. So, appropriate eye protection should be worn when handling acetone in the workplace.

Mixing anything with bleach is rarely a good idea, and that includes acetone. Combining these two substances together can produce a very dangerous compound called chloroform. Acetone and bleach create one of the oldest organic reactions known to create chloroform and this compound can knock you out cold within minutes.

Acetone is often used to clean down surfaces in laboratories and manufacturing plants. Acetone should not be stored in the same chemical store as bromine, chlorine, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or hydrogen peroxide.

Re:Storing Acetone

Just make sure they are LDPE, not HDPE (high density polyethylene) or some other plastic. They will hold up but for long time storage you need LDPE.

Acetone is commonly used as a solvent to manufacture plastics and other industrial products. Acetone may also be used to a limited extent in household products, including cosmetics and personal care products, where its most frequent application would be in the formulation of nail polish removers.

Acetone is a good solvent for many plastics and some synthetic fibers. It is used for thinning polyester resin, cleaning tools used with it, and dissolving two-part epoxies and superglue before they harden. It is used as one of the volatile components of some paints and varnishes.

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is co the most universal and common solvent for many plastics.