Bummed about my lye explosion

[BonnieKnoxville]

did you add your tea to the lye? gotta always add lye to liquid. glad your ok, I dont use glass, I use hard plastic container from hardware store, its worked for over 150 batches.

We've used a plastic cup and spoon up until tonight. My boyfriend was in the garage mixing the lye, and TWICE it bubbled up and exploded. And then the rest started melting the spoon and the container! I mixed the lye this afternoon with the exact same things. Does anyone know what would cause this? I thought maybe it was the bottom of the lye jug, and more concentrated or something, but it's still about a quarter full. Whaaaaatt..??

 

[Soapmaker145]

I find that pouring liquid to lye actually is better to avoid splashing!)

Don't ever do that! It's like playing with a bomb and hoping it won't go off. If you add lye to the appropriate amount of liquid, the temperature will come close to boiling. It is safer to start with cold water (refrigerated) and even some frozen water to help cool it down. Add the lye in batches and monitor the temperature. You can let it cool if needed before adding the rest. Always always wear the right goggles to protect your eyes.

You need a stainless steel container or better yet a polypropylene plastic pitcher (recycling code 5) that is at least 2x the volume of your solution.

So glad you're safe!

 

[kchaystack]

You always add the acid or base to water, NEVER water to and acid or base.

The reason is this: mixing NaOH or KOH and water is exothermic - it creates ALOT of heat and FAST. If you add the powder to water, the water can absorb alot of heat before phase change. But if you pour water over the NaOH or KOH, there all that heat is going to be absorbed into the small amount of water which will boil, and since it is in a small container - it sprays everywhere.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Please check out the dates of a thread that pops up again- Bonnie quoted someone who hasn't been on in a while in a thread from 2010.

I don't think that the OP is around to read this.

Bonnie, maybe start a new thread and also introduce yourself a bit

 

[IrishLass]

Yep- Necropost Alert- this thread is 7 years old and most of the folks who've posted in it have not visited the forum in several years, including the OP, Raha, who's last visit to the forum was in 2012. I will let the conversation continue, though, since all the answers in the thread given to Raha are a good PSA reminder to all, as I know the answers that will soon be given to BonnieKnoxville will be a good safety reminder as well.

To BonnieKnoxville- welcome! :wave: What kind of plastic are you using to mix your lye solution in (i.e., what is the recycle code marked on the bottom in the little triangle)? Some plastics are not compatible with lye solutions. The best ones to use have a recycle code of PP#5 or HDPE #2.

For future reference, it is always best to start a new thread when asking a new question instead of posting it in an old thread, because they tend to go unanswered or get lost in the mix.

I invite you to make your way over the Introduction section of the forum to tell us a little about yourself.


IrishLass