Advice sought regarding Plastics Identification Code & Products

Bucephalus

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Location
Fremantle, WA
As scale modelling acrylic paint Thinners and Cleaners are relatively expensive in comparison to volume, eg. 17ml Thinner $5, 85ml Cleaner $6.99, I aim to make my own. According to the Plastics Identification Code (PIC) below, PET bottles (Code 1) are solvent (eg. IPA) resistant. They are therefore ideal although expensive when postage costs are added and difficult to find. My research indicates Codes 2 & 4 may be suitable for mixtures of IPA/Distilled Water/Windex at the follow ratios:

Thinner:
1/2 cup (4ozs) Distilled Water
1/4 cup (2ozs) IPA
10 drops Acrylic Retarder
10 drops Flow Improver

Cleaner:
50% Windex
40% Distilled Water
10% IPA
10 drops of Glycerine

Plastics Identification Codes:
1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a clear, tough, solvent resistant plastic.
2 – High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a common plastic found in soft & rigid plastic forms. In rigid form is usually white or coloured, used for milk bottles, shampoo bottles & cleaning products.
3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is found in pipes, toys, furniture and packaging but contains harmful chemicals.
4 – Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is usually a soft, flexible plastic used for different kinds of wrapping, bread bags, produce bags & bin bags.
5 – Polypropylene (PP) is a hard but flexible plastic used for ice cream containers, lids & plastic take away containers.
6 – Polystyrene (PS) is also known as Styrofoam is used to make cups, foam food trays and packing materials.

Is there a fellow contributor sufficiently competent to advise the suitability of LDPE and HDPE?
 
This chart suggest HDPE is resistant to isopropyl alcohol. https://www.professionalplastics.com/professionalplastics/HDPE-LDPEChemicalResistanceChart.pdf

Also this bottle is for isopropyl alcohol and us HDPE https://tudocarros.com/teaching-eng...mbridge-english-teaching-framework/index.aspx

The lab industry uses LDPE bottles for lots of things, HDPE and LDPE are both pretty much inert.

Can you get a couple of these?
https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/nalgene-wide-mouth-square-hdpe-storage-container
 
This chart suggest HDPE is resistant to isopropyl alcohol. https://www.professionalplastics.com/professionalplastics/HDPE-LDPEChemicalResistanceChart.pdf

Also this bottle is for isopropyl alcohol and us HDPE https://tudocarros.com/teaching-eng...mbridge-english-teaching-framework/index.aspx

The lab industry uses LDPE bottles for lots of things, HDPE and LDPE are both pretty much inert.

Can you get a couple of these?
https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/nalgene-wide-mouth-square-hdpe-storage-container
Thanks @glenos. The chart is extremely helpful although the cost + postage at the other two links is prohibitive for a pensioner. I'll rummage through the laundry, etc to look for bottles marked PIC 1, 2 or 4.
Thanks again for the first reference - it answers the question!
 
Just about any plastic bottle will hold isopropanol safely. The only common solvent you need to worry about proper storage for is acetone.
 
This thread has reignited an idea I had a while ago.
Have started planning for and collecting materials required to try this.
If it works out, there's a chance I will share the end product here for critique and suggestions for improvement if folks are interested.
 
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