Tuesday, September 06, 2016

Curses! Environmental Stress Cracking

We've had a lot of aphids attacking plants in our garden this year. My usual approach is to use an insecticidal soap that I make by diluting down from a concentrate. "Normal" soap is the sodium salt of a fatty acid, while an insecticidal soap is just the potassium salt, which means the soap is relatively safe. It also works pretty well against the critters, and clean-up is easy. But they have gotten so out of hand that instead of making it up as needed, I made up a larger amount in a spray bottle and kept it in a cabinet.

Over the weekend, I knocked the bottle to the garage floor. No biggie; I picked it up and put it back in its place. But yesterday, I noticed that the soap had leaked out of the container. I picked up the bottle and saw this:
Environmental Stress Cracking of Polyethylene due to Soap
What an idiot I was. It was a polyethylene bottle with dilute soap in it and it had been stressed by the fall to the cement - a situation just begging for environmental stress cracking and that was what I got.

Environmental stress cracking (ESC) is where polyethylene and other plastics, when exposed to non-solvents and stress, break down unexpectedly. Soap and polyethylene. How can there by any interactions, especially at room temperature, especially when PE can withstand strong acids and bases, concentrated soaps and surfactants, bleach, hydrogen peroxide and more? And if you think you have an idea, then be prepared to explain why polypropylene doesn't experience ESC.

As you can imagine, I'll be on the lookout for a PP-based spray bottle for next year.


Previous Years

September 6, 2013 - A response to the ChemBark post (partially) about me

September 6, 2012 - Somewhere in a movie balcony...

September 6, 2011 - Polymorph Determination through Nanoindentation

September 6, 2007 - A resurgence of French?

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Economics Dissertation Editing and Proofreading Services said...

This article is interesting because it discusses how environmental stress cracking can affect curse words. I didn't know that this was a thing but it makes sense. I'm curious to know if there are any other words that are affected by this phenomenon.

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Curses! Environmental stress cracking (ESC) is a type of failure that can occur in materials exposed to certain combinations of stress and environment. The stress can be either applied externally, as in a tensile load or internally, as in a pressure vessel containing a liquid or gas.

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Curses! Environmental Stress Cracking is an enlightening post, which teaches us how important this is to clean our environment. The interesting point of this post is the discussion reflecting how environmental stress crack can distress our curse words.

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Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) is a form of material degradation caused by the combination of mechanical and environmental stressors. It is an important factor to consider when designing products for use in hostile or corrosive environments, as it can severely weaken the materials and cause failure.

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Combination of mechanical and environmental stressors. It is an important factor to consider when designing products for use in hostile or corrosive environments, as it can severely weaken the materials

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Aluminum foil effectively blocks radiation, air, water, and microorganisms. This is why foil is so standard in packaging consumables and medicinal products. China CPP film manufacturers packing may also be created using aluminum foil. Perishable items may be kept in this packaging for an extended time without refrigeration.

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Environmental stress cracking (ESC) is a failure in thermoplastic materials caused by stress in a specific environment, such as a chemical agent or high-temperature. It can lead to sudden and unexpected brittle failure, a major concern for engineers and designers. Key factors contributing to ESC include material type, stress level, and environment. To prevent ESC, materials should be selected less susceptible, design parts with thicker walls, reduce sharp corners, and avoid high stress concentration areas. Environmental protection, such as coatings or barriers, is also crucial. Understanding these factors and taking preventive measures can ensure the safety and reliability of plastic parts. new jersey flsa lawyer

Robert said...

Oh no, environmental stress cracking! It's such a frustrating issue to deal with. I can totally relate to the curses that come along with it. Environmental stress cracking can wreak havoc on our beloved possessions and cause so much inconvenience.
I remember when I had a water bottle that developed stress cracks due to constant exposure to sunlight and extreme temperatures. It was heartbreaking to see my favorite eco-friendly bottle deteriorate. Not only did it leak everywhere, but it became unusable too.
But the silver lining is that we can learn from these experiences. Now, I make it a point to choose materials that are resistant to environmental stress cracking. It's essential to invest in durable and reliable products, especially when it comes to items that we use on a daily basis.
So, let's raise awareness about the dangers of environmental stress cracking and encourage manufacturers to prioritize using materials that can withstand these harsh conditions. Together, we can ensure that our belongings last longer and that we minimize the curses associated with this frustrating issue.

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