An Art Project

Bitmap · 04-30-2003, 08:32 AM

i've been working on a art project where i take poly styreen blocks and melt them in gasoline. yes i know this makes Napalm. but i don't care. what i'm looking for is the destruction of the block. when experementing with this some one told me that melting styrofoam in gasoline also produces Cyanide gas. But this doesn't make any sence.
In the old days when CFCs were used to make styrofoam i could understand that being released, but CFCs are no longer used.
Does any one know the chemistry behind this? i've looked online but i couldn't find any thing.

Yes, i will post a video of the project when i'm done.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-30-2003, 05:53 PM

If you get tired of gasoline, MEK does wonderful things to foam.

Bitmap · 04-30-2003, 05:54 PM

MEK?

xoxoxoBruce · 04-30-2003, 05:58 PM

Methel Ethel Ketone.

Bitmap · 04-30-2003, 06:05 PM

I've come to the determination that MEK is probably not what i want to use. Gasoline is dangerous enough. Thankyou

xoxoxoBruce · 04-30-2003, 06:14 PM

Yeh, you're probably right. But, it does really cool things to foam. We used to take a 55 gallon drum of MEK and hook up 2 Binks spray guns to wash down turbine rotors. Did all kinds of experiments with plastics and cockroaches.

Nothing But Net · 04-30-2003, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Methel Ethel Ketone.

I think she was my date to the Sophomore Prom.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-30-2003, 08:25 PM

Quote:

I think she was my date to the Sophomore Prom.

I'll bet she got you off.:p

Whit · 05-01-2003, 01:18 AM

     MEK is some good stuff. Get some gas or oil on your hands? MEK will clean it, and the top skin layer, right off. When I worked in a metal shop we would use it to cut through caked on, old grease. Worked like a charm, as long as you didn't breath.
     I don't know about the foam/gas mixture making cyanide, but I know it gives off something nasty. I'll call a friend tomorrow. He's into that kind of thing. Um... That sounds bad doesn't it?

Bitmap · 05-01-2003, 09:47 PM

Whit: That would be awesome!
Yea after some thinking i know it can't produce Cyanide there are no Nitrogen ions in the reaction. Cyanide: CN -1

elSicomoro · 05-01-2003, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whit
He's into that kind of thing. Um... That sounds bad doesn't it?

Don't ask, don't tell.

Whit · 05-02-2003, 04:48 PM

     Okay, here's what I found out. It's not cyanide gas that is released, it's styrene gas. Very toxic. I guess you don't have to be mental giant to get that STYrene might be found in STYrofaom... It seem that early on there was a problem with any kind of alchohol being served in styrofaom cups. Go figure.
     Sorry for the lateness of the reply. Hope this helps. Though I guess you're left with the original position of doing it in a very well ventilated place. Like outdoors... With a mild or stronger breeze...

xoxoxoBruce · 05-02-2003, 05:21 PM

Quote:

alchohol being served in styrofaom cups.

Tea with lemon would dissolve them too.

Bitmap · 05-02-2003, 06:43 PM

Whit: Thank you very much. And thanks for the smiles from the rest of you. :p

04-30-2003, 08:32 AM	#1
Bitmap Look who thinks he's clever Dan. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington DC Metro Area. Fairfax city Posts: 226	An Art Project i've been working on a art project where i take poly styreen blocks and melt them in gasoline. yes i know this makes Napalm. but i don't care. what i'm looking for is the destruction of the block. when experementing with this some one told me that melting styrofoam in gasoline also produces Cyanide gas. But this doesn't make any sence. In the old days when CFCs were used to make styrofoam i could understand that being released, but CFCs are no longer used. Does any one know the chemistry behind this? i've looked online but i couldn't find any thing. Yes, i will post a video of the project when i'm done.

04-30-2003, 05:53 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	If you get tired of gasoline, MEK does wonderful things to foam. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-30-2003, 05:58 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Methel Ethel Ketone. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-30-2003, 06:05 PM	#5
Bitmap Look who thinks he's clever Dan. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington DC Metro Area. Fairfax city Posts: 226	after a bit of google research I've come to the determination that MEK is probably not what i want to use. Gasoline is dangerous enough. Thankyou

04-30-2003, 06:14 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeh, you're probably right. But, it does really cool things to foam. We used to take a 55 gallon drum of MEK and hook up 2 Binks spray guns to wash down turbine rotors. Did all kinds of experiments with plastics and cockroaches. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-30-2003, 05:54 PM	#3
Bitmap Look who thinks he's clever Dan. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington DC Metro Area. Fairfax city Posts: 226	MEK?

05-01-2003, 01:18 AM	#9
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	MEK is some good stuff. Get some gas or oil on your hands? MEK will clean it, and the top skin layer, right off. When I worked in a metal shop we would use it to cut through caked on, old grease. Worked like a charm, as long as you didn't breath.      I don't know about the foam/gas mixture making cyanide, but I know it gives off something nasty. I'll call a friend tomorrow. He's into that kind of thing. Um... That sounds bad doesn't it? __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

05-01-2003, 09:47 PM	#10
Bitmap Look who thinks he's clever Dan. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington DC Metro Area. Fairfax city Posts: 226	<b>Whit:</b> That would be awesome! Yea after some thinking i know it can't produce Cyanide there are no Nitrogen ions in the reaction. Cyanide: CN<sup> -1</sup><sub> </sub>

05-02-2003, 04:48 PM	#12
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	Okay, here's what I found out. It's not cyanide gas that is released, it's styrene gas. Very toxic. I guess you don't have to be mental giant to get that STYrene might be found in STYrofaom... It seem that early on there was a problem with any kind of alchohol being served in styrofaom cups. Go figure.      Sorry for the lateness of the reply. Hope this helps. Though I guess you're left with the original position of doing it in a very well ventilated place. Like outdoors... With a mild or stronger breeze... __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

05-02-2003, 06:43 PM	#14
Bitmap Look who thinks he's clever Dan. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington DC Metro Area. Fairfax city Posts: 226	<b>Whit:</b> Thank you very much. And thanks for the smiles from the rest of you. :p

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