I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy...a-1391099-.htm

On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.


NT

On 30/10/19 02:54, wrote:
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Whatever you do, do it slowly and do not use boiling water to try to
speed things up. Caustic soda solidified in a drain might have a layer
of sodium carbonate covering it (it is very efficient at removing carbon
dioxide from the air). That carbonate layer dissolves a lot more slowly
than caustic soda itself. Once the caustic soda is exposed, it can react
unpredictably and sometimes almost explosively with boiling water. As NT
says, it can blind you if it shoots out of from the drain hole as a hot,
concentrated, highly corrosive solution. At the very least, good eye
protection is essential, and a full-face mask makes sense if you already
have one.

--

Jeff

In message ,
writes
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?
--
Ian

On 30/10/2019 07:50, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 30/10/19 02:54, wrote:
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, JakeÂ* wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any
leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Whatever you do, do it slowly and do not use boiling water to try to
speed things up.Â* Caustic soda solidified in a drain might have a layer
of sodium carbonate covering it (it is very efficient at removing carbon
dioxide from the air). That carbonate layer dissolves a lot more slowly
than caustic soda itself. Once the caustic soda is exposed, it can react
unpredictably and sometimes almost explosively with boiling water. As NT
says, it can blind you if it shoots out of from the drain hole as a hot,
concentrated, highly corrosive solution. At the very least, good eye
protection is essential, and a full-face mask makes sense if you already
have one.

I always use a kettle of hot water. But dont peer down to see how its
working!


--
Future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early
twenty-first centurys developed world went into hysterical panic over a
globally average temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree, and,
on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer
projections combined into implausible chains of inference, proceeded to
contemplate a rollback of the industrial age.

Richard Lindzen

On 30/10/2019 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, JakeÂ* wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any
leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

The same bottle has IME done both depending in the concentration of
added water.
..


--
Its easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.
Mark Twain

On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures of
varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

--

Jeff

Yes, seriously, I know of a drain that was blown apart by the reaction,
which was not nice for anyone in splatter range.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/19 02:54, wrote:
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads
?
I'm panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Whatever you do, do it slowly and do not use boiling water to try to speed
things up. Caustic soda solidified in a drain might have a layer of
sodium carbonate covering it (it is very efficient at removing carbon
dioxide from the air). That carbonate layer dissolves a lot more slowly
than caustic soda itself. Once the caustic soda is exposed, it can react
unpredictably and sometimes almost explosively with boiling water. As NT
says, it can blind you if it shoots out of from the drain hole as a hot,
concentrated, highly corrosive solution. At the very least, good eye
protection is essential, and a full-face mask makes sense if you already
have one.

--

Jeff

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC, Jake wrote:
I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has harderned any leads ?
Im panicking

water dissolves it. Vinegar dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.
--
Ian

Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC,
Jake wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it. Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


--

Roger Hayter

"Roger Hayter" wrote in message
...
My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?

And, as with any dangerous solid or liquid (eg exothermic in contact with
water), always add solid/liquid to an excess of water rather than water to
an excess of solid/liquid. Had that drummed into me in chemistry lessons!

NY wrote:

"Roger Hayter" wrote in message
...
My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?

And, as with any dangerous solid or liquid (eg exothermic in contact with
water), always add solid/liquid to an excess of water rather than water to
an excess of solid/liquid. Had that drummed into me in chemistry lessons!

Agreed. That's what I meant by 'gradually' - but I could have stated it
more clearly.

--

Roger Hayter

On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07 UTC,
Jake wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it. Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up and
pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

--
€œIdeas are inherently conservative. They yield not to the attack of
other ideas but to the massive onslaught of circumstance"

- John K Galbraith

On 30/10/2019 14:19, NY wrote:
"Roger Hayter" wrote in message
...
MyÂ*Â* guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors.Â* Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?

And, as with any dangerous solid or liquid (eg exothermic in contact
with water), always add solid/liquid to an excess of water rather than
water to an excess of solid/liquid. Had that drummed into me in
chemistry lessons!

It's the safe and less useful way, yes.

As I said, try it the other way after making sure you have old clothes
and eye protection.

--
€œIdeas are inherently conservative. They yield not to the attack of
other ideas but to the massive onslaught of circumstance"

- John K Galbraith

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07
UTC,
Jake wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it. Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has
added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up and
pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

On Thu, 31 Oct 2019 07:20:17 +1100, Chang, better known as cantankerous
trolling senile geezer Rodent Speed, wrote:

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

Can't be as much of a problem as you are, you abnormal trolling senile pest!

--
Website (from 2007) dedicated to the 85-year-old trolling senile
cretin from Oz:
https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/r...d-faq.2973853/

On 30/10/2019 20:20, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019
02:44:07 UTC,
JakeÂ* wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it.
Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally
without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has
added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex
hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my
water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it
does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

MyÂ*Â* guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors.Â* Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free


--
The New Left are the people they warned you about.

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up and
pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added to the
fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the pipe to soften
or even melt.

On Thursday, 31 October 2019 13:14:15 UTC, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up and
pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added to the
fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the pipe to soften
or even melt.

The water can't get above 100C, it just forms steam to carry the excess heat away. Harmless to any drain pipe.

As for pressure, you can't make any when there's only one blockage, there's nowhere closed. If you artifically made 2 blockages, even then the materials blocking drain pipes won't contain any significant pressure. IOW the alarmism is bs.


NT

On Fri, 1 Nov 2019 05:48:51 +1100, Chang, better known as cantankerous
trolling senile geezer Rodent Speed, wrote:


One end is always free

It clearly isnt

LOL in auto-contradicting mode again, sociopathic troll from Oz?

--
Kerr-Mudd,John addressing senile Rot:
"Auto-contradictor Rod is back! (in the KF)"
MID:

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 20:20, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:44:07
UTC,
Jake wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it.
Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally without
a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has
added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex
hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my water
is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it
does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up and
pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It clearly isnt if there is lots of pressure.

On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added to
the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the pipe to
soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take boiling
water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at approximately
the same temperature.



--
How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think.

Adolf Hitler

On 31/10/2019 18:48, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 20:20, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message ,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019
02:44:07 UTC,
JakeÂ* wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it
has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it.
Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally
without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something
has added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex
hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic
mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous
and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my
water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However,
it does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

MyÂ*Â* guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors.Â* Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It clearly isnt if there is lots of pressure.

'lots of pressure' is relative to 'none at all'

The vigorous boiling:

- heats the fat berg
- adds pressure at the base of the accessible water column in terms of
short duration pulses.

It's a bit like a hammer drill.

It is not like a shotgun cartridge. Or pumping up a car tyre

Experience suggests that it is highly effective at dislodging congealed
fat and represents no danger to pipework and only a small danger to
stupid people who lean over to see whats going on without glasses on.


But then, I have tried it many times and you obviously have not.



--
Its easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.
Mark Twain

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 31/10/2019 18:48, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 20:20, Chang wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 30/10/2019 13:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 30/10/19 08:07, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message
,
writes On Wednesday, 30 October 2019
02:44:07 UTC,
Jake wrote: I poured caustic soda down my shower hole and it
has
harderned any leads ? I'm panicking water dissolves it.
Vinegar
dissolves it faster, but beware of splash
from caustic, a chemical that can blind you.

Some brands of caustic soda 'harden'. With others, there's a
rapid,
heat-producing reaction with the water, and dissolve totally
without a
trace. Why is this? Have the former been 'cut' - ie something has
added
to bulk it out (such as washing soda)?

It's probably due to the amount of water added and the complex
hydrates
sodium hydroxide forms with water, particularly the eutectic
mixtures
of varying solubility:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Hydrates

"A hot water solution containing 73.1% (mass) of NaOH is an
eutectic
that solidifies at about 62.63 °C as an intimate mix of anhydrous
and
monohydrate crystals."

Thanks. I'll study that. One thing I didn't mention was that my
water is
extremely hard, and it may be the calcium that does it. However, it
does
seem that some brands of caustic soda are worse than others.

My guess would be the size and shape of the pellets and the rate of
adding water would be important factors. Aren't you supposed to
gradually add the NaOH to the water and use the solution?


That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It clearly isnt if there is lots of pressure.

'lots of pressure' is relative to 'none at all'

The vigorous boiling:

- heats the fat berg
- adds pressure at the base of the accessible water column in terms of
short duration pulses.

It's a bit like a hammer drill.

It is not like a shotgun cartridge. Or pumping up a car tyre

Experience suggests that it is highly effective at dislodging congealed
fat and represents no danger to pipework and only a small danger to stupid
people who lean over to see whats going on without glasses on.


But then, I have tried it many times and you obviously have not.

I have actually, but I have earthenware pipes.

And a mate of mine, a plumber, used to be keen
on pouring a Winchester of conc nitric acid into
blocked drains and did find that worked very well.
That as in the days before plastic drain pipes too.

On Fri, 1 Nov 2019 19:47:42 +1100, Chang, better known as cantankerous
trolling senile geezer Rodent Speed, wrote:


I have actually, but I have earthenware pipes.

Shut your stupid senile gob, you stupid nym-shifting senile cretin from Oz!

--
addressing nym-shifting senile Rodent:
"You on the other hand are a heavyweight bull****ter who demonstrates
your particular prowess at it every day."
MID:

On 01/11/2019 07:33, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend
up and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added
to the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the
pipe to soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take boiling
water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at approximately
the same temperature.



Unless the temperature gets to boiling point rapidly and the steam
cannot escape, whereupon the temperature could well get over 100C.

Steam burns cause skin a lot of damage very quickly.

On Friday, 1 November 2019 16:06:35 UTC, Andrew wrote:
On 01/11/2019 07:33, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend
up and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added
to the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the
pipe to soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take boiling
water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at approximately
the same temperature.



Unless the temperature gets to boiling point rapidly and the steam
cannot escape, whereupon the temperature could well get over 100C.

Steam burns cause skin a lot of damage very quickly.

Someone must have their head wedged firmly down the drain for all that to happen.

On 01/11/2019 16:06, Andrew wrote:
On 01/11/2019 07:33, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend
up and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added
to the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the
pipe to soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take
boiling water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at
approximately the same temperature.



Unless the temperature gets to boiling point rapidly and the steam
cannot escape, whereupon the temperature could well get over 100C.

How -= if te water can get to it, can te steam NOT escape?


Steam burns cause skin a lot of damage very quickly.

Christ you are handwavery received wisdom WIMP
Have you ever done ANYTHING in real life?


--
Theres a mighty big difference between good, sound reasons and reasons
that sound good.

Burton Hillis (William Vaughn, American columnist)

On 01/11/19 07:33, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real Men„¢ fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added to
the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the pipe to
soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take boiling
water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at approximately
the same temperature.

Yes and no.

Most certainly, PVC pipes can withstand boiling water. It's not easy to
find a specific figure, but the melting point of PVC in the form it is
used in pipes is probably around 200 deg C. What temperature it might
start to soften at, and lose some physical strength is another matter,
but it should still be fine for use as a waste pipe.

With polyethylene, it's a different matter. Sources give the melting
point as between 120 and 141 deg C, but, of course, it softens at a much
lower temperature as anyone who has poured boiling water into a PE
container will have found out. So anyone who tries to use PE pipe for
waste could be in for a nasty surprise if they pour boiling water down it.

How much of a surprise if caustic soda is used can be calculated - to
some extent. A bit of Googling will show that when sodium hydroxide is
dissolved in water it releases 44kJ of energy per mole - in other words
about 250 calories per gram. One calorie will raise the temperature of
one gram of water by 1 deg C. So, for example, adding one gram of sodium
hydroxide to half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of water at freezing point will
raise its temperature to boiling point.

And adding more will raise its temperature *above* boiling point. Well
above boiling point, in fact, and not "...approximately the same
temperature". If you look at Graph 1 on page 31 he
https://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/CausticSoda/caustic.pdf
you will see that a 50% solution of sodium hydroxide boils at about 142
deg C at atmospheric pressure (and so even higher if under pressure in a
blocked pipe). In other words, the temperature of the solution will be
above the melting point of polyethylene.

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
On 01/11/19 07:33, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 31/10/2019 13:13, NY wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
That's the namby way to do it, yes, but Real MenT fill the u-bend up
and pour a boiling kettle down. That shifts any fatbergs

you get superheated pure NaOH and lots of pressure.

Which might be a problem with modern plastic drain pipes.

It isn't

One end is always free

It's the heat that would be the problem, not the pressure. Solid NaOH
(crystals) gives out a lot of heat when it dissolves in water. Added to
the fact that the water is already boiling, you could cause the pipe to
soften or even melt.

It never has yet

As you probably do not understand, plastic waste pipes can take boiling
water, and boiling solutions of caustic sodoaq boilss at approximately
the same temperature.

Yes and no.

Most certainly, PVC pipes can withstand boiling water. It's not easy to find a specific
figure, but the melting point of PVC in the form it is used in pipes is probably around
200 deg C. What temperature it might start to soften at, and lose some physical
strength is another matter, but it should still be fine for use as a waste pipe.

With polyethylene, it's a different matter. Sources give the melting point as between
120 and 141 deg C, but, of course, it softens at a much lower temperature as anyone who
has poured boiling water into a PE container will have found out. So anyone who tries
to use PE pipe for waste could be in for a nasty surprise if they pour boiling water
down it.

How much of a surprise if caustic soda is used can be calculated - to some extent. A
bit of Googling will show that when sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water it releases
44kJ of energy per mole - in other words about 250 calories per gram. One calorie will
raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1 deg C. So, for example, adding one gram
of sodium hydroxide to half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of water at freezing point will raise
its temperature to boiling point.

And adding more will raise its temperature *above* boiling point. Well above boiling
point, in fact, and not "...approximately the same temperature". If you look at Graph 1
on page 31 he
https://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/CausticSoda/caustic.pdf
you will see that a 50% solution of sodium hydroxide boils at about 142 deg C at
atmospheric pressure (and so even higher if under pressure in a blocked pipe). In other
words, the temperature of the solution will be above the melting point of polyethylene.


Regardless of its effect on the pipe itself, I'd imagine a bigger concern might
be its effect on any joints. As basically the last thing anyone needs are leaking
joints in inaccessible places.

michael adams

....