Chlorine in plastic

[Liam Callaghan]

I'm just writing up the guides for the conicals and wanted to doubl echeck a point on cleaning agents.  If anyone can answer this difinitively it would be appreciated.

 

My understanding is that chlorine is soluable in plastics and can migrate into it.  Then also migratre out again into other liquids when the tank is refilled.  I think its chlorophenol.

 

Anyone a chemist and can confirm or deny it?

I don't want to post the guide unless I am sure its right.

 

Liam

[Ralph]

Cant confirm, but that sounds about right. Probably worth watching Iodaphor as well unless people like brown coloured fermentors?

[Liam Callaghan]

Yeah mate it does make a bit of a mess

Still can't get a clear answer on this, off to see the lab next week and they will know.  Maybe I should have posted in the pro section

[mattd2]

Hey Liam, I got a few chemical compatability charts at work. Biggest issue is plastic and chlorine are very general terms. I'll look it up but can you confirm what plastic exactly - PP/PE/PVC/cPVC and what chlorine - I'm assuming you mean bleach/sodium hypochlorite @ dilute concentration?

For example:

13% Hypo is ok in cPVC up to 60°C, and ok in PP & PVC up to 60° but "some mechanical damage possible"

5% bleaching agent (whatevery that is, maybe dilute hypo?) is ok in PVC & cPVC up to 60°C, and ok in PP up to 60° but "some mechanical damage possible"

[Liam Callaghan]

Hey Matt,

Yes I was more interested in bleach and using it as a cleaning agent in plastics, not sure if thats sodium hypochlorite sorry.  The plastic the fermenters I'm making at polyethelene. 

I never expected any mechanical damage though.

Does your chart provide any data on the chlorine migrating into the plastic and causing bleach tastes in beers?