Does butane dissolve PVC? 3

[thcmeds]

Does butane dissolve PVC? If so, what kind of plastic do they use for the storage tank in a disposable lighter? Do any plastics have a high resistance to butane? Also what are the common constituents of butane sold as lighter fluid and what is the difference with more expensive/filtered brands? I am interested in this for medical reasons, glad to hear

 

[phex]

according to this chart, it has a good resistance (will not be effected by butane)

http://www.omega.com/pdf/tubing/technical_section/chemical_chart_2.asp

hth,
chris

 

[khan101]

I hardly doubt that. Most of the cheap versions of butane lighters (for smokers) are made of PVC and plastics. Isn't it?

 

[jte]

thcmeds-

I agree that butane lighters are made from plastics, but check a few more sources for PVC. I'd recommend the Harrington Plastics site at

http://www.harringtonplastics.com/ChemSearch.cfm

which indicates that PVC is unsuitable for butane service.

jt

 

[dkf]

thcmeds
Butane lighters contain mixtures of n-butane, iso-butane and a fraction of propane to adjust vapour pressure of the mixture. Believe if there are other components, they are present only as impurities and in the ppm level. I´ve seen lighter vessels being made of nylons and acetals, a decade ago. I do not have updated info but doubt lighter components being made out of PVC.

dkf

 

[jsummerfield]

I doubt that the lighter is PVC. Low pressure natural gas is sometimes gathered in PVC piping.

John

 

[thcmeds]

thanks everyone for the great leads, I'd tend to believe the second link - that butane is unsuitable for use w/PVC. There are also mercaptans in typical butane right?

 

[epoisses]

Depends what butane; the butane used for lighters and other small-scale use is normally hydrotreated very severely, mainly because of use for deodorants.

 

[naks]

Corrosion/reaction appears to depend on the type of PVC, actually. Found info originally at

http://www.harvel.com/downloads/chemical-resistance.pdf

(butane is kind of cut off at the bottom of one page, but you can make out an 'R') for recommended, or acceptable, exposure of PVC Type 1 to butane. Checked some other sites and Type 1 PVC seems to be an industry standard and resistant to many corrosive materials.