PTFE tape not good

Post by **manu de hanoi** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:33 am

I left a piece of PTFE (teflon) tape yesterday in a cup with 70ABV rhum. The white tape that is used for making plumbing joints.

After 5 hours, parts of the tape turned transparent others kept the white colour.

PTFE no good

Pikluk · Post by **Pikluk** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:36 am

i read from someone here(cant find the post) he used ptfe tape for is thermometer probe and it melted and driped in is column packing...

Post by **HookLine** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:16 am

PTFE has a melting point of 327ºC, and it doesn't even start to degrade until 260C. I would be very surprised if someone managed to get their still up to the temp required to melt PTFE tape. They would have far more important problems to deal with if that happened. My guess is they didn't use PTFE tape.

There are different types of PTFE tape. Use the standard white plumbing tape.

PTFE is rated excellent for alcohol resistance up to at least 100ºC. It does go sort of transparent when soaked in high strength ethanol, but that doesn't mean it is not resistant to it, and that it is chemically 'breaking down' in some way.

Pikluk · Post by **Pikluk** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:00 am

but that doesn't mean it is not resistant to it

since when do we care about that....
does it leach stuff...

and maybe the tread i read was from a guy who used some different kind of tape i dont know...

Post by **Tater** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:35 am

Was it made in china ?If ya keep all that junk outta your still you don't have to worry about it anyway.

Pikluk · Post by **Pikluk** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:58 am

made a oak seal for my thermometer probe

with a little paste seal real good.

Post by **HookLine** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:54 am

What is the difference between resistant and leaching? If it is resistant, it isn't chemically breaking down, and hence it isn't releasing (leaching) anything.

However, I am not preaching that we should all use PTFE. It is your choice.

P.S. Nice oak seal.

Pikluk · Post by **Pikluk** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:39 am

from my point of view when a manufacturer say that his tape is resistant to ethanol he means that his tape will keep a good seal even expose to ethanol...
anyway i do use it and never saw melted pieces,discolored pieces or tasted anything.
for sealing treaded joints just work like charm.
flour past on treaded joint is a bitch to get apart.

new_moonshiner · Post by **new_moonshiner** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:22 pm

same here pikluk, i agree with hook also if they got it hot enough to melt they got way more problems than the tape issue.

Post by **manu de hanoi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:50 am

the tape was probably from china, but teflon is teflon.

u guys just try tearing off a bit of the tape by hand (difficult this is a very strong material), then soak it in 70 % abv and some parts will turn transparent, probably the parts that where stretched out during the manual tear off.
The only other explanation is that the wax of the paper cup i used was dissoved by the ethanol and then itself dissolved the white teflon thing.

FraekNess · Post by **FraekNess** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:07 pm

I do research with PTFE membranes and the only reason it turns clear is because it is absorbing EtOH. PTFE is extremely hydrophobic (white), but will absorb almost all organic compounds (and turn translucent). However, the PTFE is in no way reacting with the ethanol.

And yes it will most likely absorb where it is torn, because it it thiner and has more defects.

PTFE = Unreactive & High Temperature Tolerance = Safe (in my opinion)

PS if you take out the PTFE and let it dry, it will turn back white

big worm · Post by **big worm** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:15 pm

cool! the amount i use on probe is so small i would have not thought about it much...

Post by **manu de hanoi** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:25 am

I let the tape dry, it turned white again. Thanks Fraekness

Post by **theholymackerel** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:45 am

Howdy FraekNess.

As has been stated here over and over again: If ya wanna use plastic of any type feel free, but DO NOT USE THIS FORUM TO ADVOCATE IT'S USE TO OTHERS!

You simply statin' that any type of plastic is ok to use is not allowed here. Good info is always welcome though. If you have a link to a paper or a study that shows ethanol is not effected in any way by a specific type of plastic then please do post it... but flat statements as to the suitability of plastic in stills or used with alcohol is not ok.

Thankyou for yer understandin'.

Post by **manu de hanoi** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:11 am

Mac ur right but ease up, PTFE is a special case. We all use teflon in our frying pan, sometimes with alcohol in it..... + fraek is a new member.

Fraek do u have any papers on PTFE and ethanol ? Or could u find one ?

Post by **theholymackerel** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:27 am

manu de hanoi wrote:Mac ur right but ease up, PTFE is a special case. We all use teflon in our frying pan, sometimes with alcohol in it..... + fraek is a new member.

Fraek do u have any papers on PTFE and ethanol ? Or could u find one ?

Ease up? Get real. I said "please" and "thankyou" so if anyone got upset they are way too sensitive.

PTFE is NOT a special case. It's not ok to tell folks here to use it unless you can provide a good scientific study that states that it in no way effects alcohol.

I don't use teflon in my kitchen, or anywhere else in my house. Most everyone I know has tossed out their teflon coated pans.

I realise that FraekNess is new and it's better that everyone take a moment when they are new to learn the rules... they were posted in a "sticky" for a reason.

I allready asked him to please post any good papers or studies done on the effects of plastics on alcohol. Hopefully if he has such, he will post it and we all can learn.

Manu de Hanoi, if ya got any more criticisms of me, please send me a PM. If I don't get a PM I'll consider this subject closed.

Post by **rad14701** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:31 am

And here I thought the teflon paranoia had passed... Do people really ingest enough teflon to cause problems...??? No... Does telfon continue to produce fumes over extended periods of time...??? No... I seem to recall purchasing a teflon pan with a warning that advised that it be seasoned before use, much like cast iron pans, only not to the same extreme... Are people just a bit too paranoid...??? Yes... Just use teflon tape and stop worrying... You probably have a better chance of dying at the hands of your spouse than of teflon use... And you'll probably die quicker from eating at fast food restaurants... To be honest, alcohol is probably more hazardous than teflon... And here I thought it was weed that made people paranoid...

zymos · Post by **zymos** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:32 am

One of the few times that someone with actual professional experience on the topic posts some meaningful information, and look at the reaction they get...

RE: the post above mine though- there are REAL dangers of teflon, especially when it is heated to temps that can easily be reached in an oven or an empty pan on a stove burner. It isn't all just "paranoia"...

Post by **theholymackerel** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:52 am

Sigh.

If Fraenk, or ANYONE else, can post a link to a paper or study done to find out the effect that any type of plastic has upon a water-ethanol mix PLEASE post it. We don't want to see what the alcohol does to the plastic, but the other way 'round.

Open and free dialog is always best, but this one specific subject has been beat to death. Please everyone drop it untill such time as you can post a link to a good scientific study.

All the moderaters have asked time and time again that plastic not be advocated as a still material on these boards. I've asked nicely, and I've asked not nicely, either gets me bitched out. Uncle Jesse, the owner and administrater of these boards, has asked ya'll not to tell folks here that it's ok to use plastic. There are 10 "stickies" in this catagory and 4 of em are about plastic and not to use em or tell others to use em.

Why is this so hard for some? It's a simple request.

There are many reasons we don't want to advocate plastic in any form. The first is that no-one has ever posted a link to a scientific study showin' the effects of plastics on alcohol. We have repetedly asked anyone with any info to post a link. It hasn't happend yet. But folks still tell folks to use plastic then cuss us out when we tell em not to.

Another reason we don't want folks sayin' plastics are ok is that not all folks are real bright... which leads me to another subject: Certain folks here want us to "dumb down" the site. They want spoonfeedin', unified measures, and all recipes made to 5 gallon recipes. They say that distillation should be explained here so ANYONE can do it. Boy is that a bad idea. Distillers should have at least a basic understandin' of math and physics. Chemistry would help too. We don't want idiots playin with a heated flamible solvent. Do ya really want ANYONE to run a still? Is yer down-wind neighbor bright enough to run a still and not burn his and your house down? After all, we're talkin' 'bout heatin' a flamible solvent here.

punkin · Post by **punkin** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:56 am

theholymackerel wrote:Sigh.

If Fraenk, or ANYONE else, can post a link to a paper or study done to find out the effect that any type of plastic has upon a water-ethanol mix PLEASE post it. We don't want to see what the alcohol does to the plastic, but the other way 'round.

Open and free dialog is always best, but this one specific subject has been beat to death. Please everyone drop it untill such time as you can post a link to a good scientific study.

All the moderaters have asked time and time again that plastic not be advocated as a still material on these boards. I've asked nicely, and I've asked not nicely, either gets me bitched out. Uncle Jesse, the owner and administrater of these boards, has asked ya'll not to tell folks here that it's ok to use plastic. There are 10 "stickies" in this catagory and 4 of em are about plastic and not to use em or tell others to use em.

Why is this so hard for some? It's a simple request.

There are many reasons we don't want to advocate plastic in any form. The first is that no-one has ever posted a link to a scientific study showin' the effects of plastics on alcohol. We have repetedly asked anyone with any info to post a link. It hasn't happend yet. But folks still tell folks to use plastic then cuss us out when we tell em not to.

Another reason we don't want folks sayin' plastics are ok is that not all folks are real bright... which leads me to another subject: Certain folks here want us to "dumb down" the site. They want spoonfeedin', unified measures, and all recipes made to 5 gallon recipes. They say that distillation should be explained here so ANYONE can do it. Boy is that a bad idea. Distillers should have at least a basic understandin' of math and physics. Chemistry would help too. We don't want idiots playin with a heated flamible solvent. Do ya really want ANYONE to run a still? Is yer down-wind neighbor bright enough to run a still and not burn his and your house down? After all, we're talkin' 'bout heatin' a flamible solvent here.

Anyone should be able to understand that, THM, it's as plain as anything could be said.

SoIsItOKToUsePlasticPunkin :?:MOD EDIT _ LETS STOP THIS OFF TOPIC POSTING

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:05 pm

punkin wrote:SoIsItOKToUsePlasticPunkin

Ya smartarse Punkin

MOD EDIT_PLEASE LETS STOP THIS OFF TOPIC POSTING.