E10 gasoline and plastics?

[jimski2]

As I was tarping up my scow for the winter, my Cannon downrigger which was laying on the carpet became stuck to the carpet. The carpet came loose from the floorboards where it is glued down. The plastic case of the rigger was dissolved and stuck to the carpet. The rigger still works but the area where it was stuck is deformed.

I then pulled up my worm harnesses and the plastic beads were also stuck to the carpet. I had to use my knife to separate them.

I noticed my six gallon fuel can had the vent on top open and I believe the fumes that are heavier than air caused the plastic to deteriorate.

I pulled the fuel cans out of the boat and put the gasoline in my truck. I do not think I have any other solvents in the boat.

What do you think happened?

[muskybob]

I think you answered your own question.

[W.W.IV.]

Maybe you could find an old pice of carpet and pore a little E10 on it and than through some of those beads on it and see what happens.Maybe someone spilled a can of coke on it. I put a after market 18gal. plastic tank with a vented cap in my boat about 10yrs. ago and so far so good. Oh, yes I'm hoping your wrong. Last spring I drained the tank because the motor was running poorly,maybe water or a build up of oil in the tank. Soooo I dumped about 4gal. of gas into the truck that ran fine before that and it was all down hill from there. After changing the plugs and 4or5 cans of injector cleaner it runs fine again,so does my OB. Hope your truck did better. Oh, no water in the gas.

[big easy]

Wow,that sucks.

Cannons bodies,are made out of a Polycarbonate like Lexan,

Maybe the info below will help.

I copied the following from a few sites on Polycarbonates

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Polycarbonate does have its disadvantages. It has only fair chemical resistance and is attacked by many organic solvents. It is also fairly expensive compared to other plastics. It has been as much as double the price of ABS. In applications where lower heat and impact are needed, ABS can be quite a bargain compared to polycarbonate.

Alcohol or high-petroleum-content cleaners are even more destructive to aftermarket windshields made of Lexan®. Spritz a little alcohol on one of these windshields and it immediately turns milky white. I had a customer tell me he destroyed his windshield while refilling his fuel tank. The hose nozzle sprung loose, gushing gasoline all over the inside of his Lexan windshield. Was he angry!

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WILL DAMAGE POLYCARBONATE

* Alkali bleaches such as sodium hypochlorite

* Acetone

* Acrylonitrile

* Ammonia

* Amyl acetate

* Benzene

* Bromine

* Butyl acetate

* Sodium hydroxide

* Chloroform

* Dimethylformamide

* Concentrated hydrochloric acid

* Concentrated hydrofluoric acid

* Iodine

* Methanol

* Methyl ethyl ketone

* Styrene

* Tetrachloroethylene

* Toluene

* Concentrated sulfuric acid

* Xylene

* Cyanoacrylate monomers

*************************************

REQUIRE CAUTION

* Cyclohexanone

* Diesel oil

* Formic acid

* Gasoline

* Glycerine

* Heating oil

* Jet fuel

* Concentrated perchloric acid

* Sulfur dioxide

* Turpentine

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CONSIDERED SAFE

* Acetic acid

* Ammonium chloride

* Antimony trichloride

* Borax in H2O

* Butane

* Calcium chloride

* Calcium hypochlorite

* Carbon dioxide

* Carbon monoxide

* Citric acid 10%

* Copper(II) sulfate

* Ethyl alcohol, i.e. ethanol 95%

* Ethylene glycol

* Formaldehyde 10%

* Hydrochloric acid 20%

* Hydrofluoric acid 5%

* Isopropyl alcohol

* Mercury

* Methane

* Oxygen

* Ozone

* Sulfur

* Urea

* Water†

[borderline 350]

Dear J..2 and Big Easy.

The list of solvents (above) for polycarbonate includes several found in our "new gasoline". This is a possible source of the problem. But be aware that "plastizers" in the carpet may also be the source of the chemical attack, especially when exposed to direct sun light and heat (outgassing!) and in direct contact with the rigger case. Who made your boat carpet? Who was the manufacturer? And what country did the fiber come from??

I would lean towards the gasoline vapor exposure, but do not rule out the carpet fiber!

Respectfully submitted,

Jet Boat Bill......former Materials Engineer and Failure Analysis Specialist in......plastics!

[big easy]

Thanks Borderline,

Would that be a similar reason why rubber worms will melt some types of plastics?

[borderline 350]

Dear Big Easy,

Yes!! "Worm Proof Boxes" will stand up to the plastizers used in rubber worms. I have seen"USDA Food grade" polyethylene sheet goods outgas at room temperature cause negative chemical reactions with polycarbonate!

Sincerely,

Jet Boat Bill

[jimski2]

This is just anither E10 problem. Remember it takes 10 gallons of ethanol to give you the same energy as six gallons of gasoline. And you wonder why your fuel bill is so high.