Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Alan W.
status       other
age          50s

Question -   A large number of individually wrapped peppermint
lifesavers were put into a plastic container for a few months.  Crystals
formed on the sides of the container that are fairly thick and will not
dissolve in many dishwashing cycles.  It looks as if perhaps the plastic
was crystalized and not formed on it, as they are very hard and cannod be
chipped off with fingernails.  The container still is quite strong
smelling after two months.  I am hoping that the crystals will dissolve
into the air, and I think they should, since that is how they were formed.
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It sounds like a volatile component of the Life Savers (probably menthol)
condensed inside the plastic walls of the container and acted as a solvent
for the plastic.  Over a period of time the plastic then recrystallized,
changing in shape from smooth to granular.  Short of re-molding the plastic
into the shape of the container, I cannot think of any way you can regain its
lost form.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
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