Dissolving an unknown Polymer

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the leprechaun

Active member
Supporting Member
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Location
Ireland
Hi,
I was just wondering if there is anyone who has any knowledge of dissolving a very hard polymer (which unfortunately I have no MSDS). I have tried burning (creates a big mess plus the fumes are seriously toxic).tried piranha just touches the outer layer. The only thing which will dissolve it is acetone but it has to be soaked for a min of 6 months then it it jelly like . I have attached a photo of one type. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

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FrugalRefiner said:
Instead of dissolving, have you tried Mr. Hammer and his friend Mr. Chisel? It looks like it is chipped away at the right end.

Dave
Click to expand...
Exactly what I was thinking !!

The hammer is one of my main tools 😆 🤣

I literally find myself using my 4 lb shop hammer to free all sorts of metals from their plastic prison almost every day.

I would do a small test to see if the polymer would be effected with 50/50 water and nitric acid and if not then I would break up a piece with the good old hammer and see if it dissolves the silver that is incased in the plastic or just how little hammering you can get away with and still get the silver into your acid.

If what is in your picture is not silver and contains gold or PGM's maybe try the same test with aqua regia.

If you try a sample with aqua regia do a small test because some plastics will turn into a mess when it comes into contact with hydrochloric acid.
 
the leprechaun said:
Hi,
I was just wondering if there is anyone who has any knowledge of dissolving a very hard polymer (which unfortunately I have no MSDS). I have tried burning (creates a big mess plus the fumes are seriously toxic).tried piranha just touches the outer layer. The only thing which will dissolve it is acetone but it has to be soaked for a min of 6 months then it it jelly like . I have attached a photo of one type. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Plastics have a characteristic of becoming more brittle at lower temps. Maybe try freezing some, then Thor to the rescue.
 
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. I should have added I have used liquid nitrogen, sulfuric,nitric and hydrochloric but not aqua regia as it is Pd/Ir on titanium and my knowledge on refining this is zero as I just do Au/Ag. Hammer and hammer mill have also been tried to no avail. It is one stubborn piece of plastic. As I mentioned previously acetone will soften the main part but it just takes too long. If someone wants to try and refine it I am willing to post a sample just pm me your details.
 
the leprechaun said:
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. I should have added I have used liquid nitrogen, sulfuric,nitric and hydrochloric but not aqua regia as it is Pd/Ir on titanium and my knowledge on refining this is zero as I just do Au/Ag. Hammer and hammer mill have also been tried to no avail. It is one stubborn piece of plastic. As I mentioned previously acetone will soften the main part but it just takes too long. If someone wants to try and refine it I am willing to post a sample just pm me your details.
Click to expand...
Hard to see dimensions here.
You only want to liberate the metal, right?
How about cutting it and prying the metal out?
 
Correct I want to liberate the metal. It is 2.5cm long (1") gross weight with the plastic 0.75g each little ferrule weighs 0.04g and you can see the small piece of wire welded to the ferrule. The ferrules I have in the photos are the absolute shortest piece of wire attached as I want to show worst case scenario
 

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the leprechaun said:
Correct I want to liberate the metal. It is 2.5cm long (1") gross weight with the plastic 0.75g each little ferrule weighs 0.04g and you can see the small piece of wire welded to the ferrule. The ferrules I have in the photos are the absolute shortest piece of wire attached as I want to show worst case scenario
Click to expand...
Have you considered Pyrolizing and incineration?
How much do you have?
 
Yes I have tried and it creates a big mess. But I do not have an appliance with an after burner not sure if that would work to burn it off at a controlled temperature.
I have probably 100kg clean metal with wire as in the second photo I posted.I have few hundred kg to process and maybe 20kg like in the first photo I posted. Of the 20kg to process this photo shows the best case where the previous photo showed worst case.
 

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the leprechaun said:
Yes I have tried and it creates a big mess. But I do not have an appliance with an after burner not sure if that would work to burn it off at a controlled temperature.
I have probably 100kg clean metal with wire as in the second photo I posted.I have few hundred kg to process and maybe 20kg like in the first photo I posted. Of the 20kg to process this photo shows the best case where the previous photo showed worst case.
Click to expand...
Do you have access to a adjustable table saw?
If so you can make some kind of holder and saw a groove just short of full depth and pry them out.
Maybe?
 
the leprechaun said:
Hi,
I was just wondering if there is anyone who has any knowledge of dissolving a very hard polymer (which unfortunately I have no MSDS). I have tried burning (creates a big mess plus the fumes are seriously toxic).tried piranha just touches the outer layer. The only thing which will dissolve it is acetone but it has to be soaked for a min of 6 months then it it jelly like . I have attached a photo of one type. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Chemically, a good try is 30-40% sodium hydroxide, heated to simmer. But treat with caution and in a hood!
 

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