Melting SCI temp?

[MelissaG]

I really really hate sci noodles. They require far too much pressure to create a solid shampoo bar and it falls apart too easily. I still have some left so I want to melt it to make smoother bars. I must be googling wrong because I can't find exactly information on what temperature will melt it.

Next time, I buy SCI powder.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I really really hate sci noodles. They require far too much pressure to create a solid shampoo bar and it falls apart too easily. I still have some left so I want to melt it to make smoother bars. I must be googling wrong because I can't find exactly information on what temperature will melt it.

Next time, I buy SCI powder.

Just put them in a grinder (wear a mask) and grind them into powder. That's what i do - way cheaper than buying the powder. Noodles take forever to melt.

 

[DeeAnna]

You're dissolving the SCI in a solvent (like dissolving sugar in water) You're not melting it (like ice melting into water).

It's as much about the liquid you use for the solvent as it is the temperature. You can apparently even dissolve SCI at room temp if you do it right (see article link below).

Susan (Swift Crafty Monkey) explains it better than I can -- A few thoughts on how to work with and melt SCI and how to create a double boiler – Point of Interest

 

[KiwiMoose]

You're dissolving the SCI in a solvent (like dissolving sugar in water) You're not melting it (like ice melting into water).

It's as much about the liquid you use for the solvent as it is the temperature. You can apparently even dissolve SCI at room temp if you do it right (see article link below).

Susan (Swift Crafty Monkey) explains it better than I can -- A few thoughts on how to work with and melt SCI and how to create a double boiler – Point of Interest

I add to my powder to already melted alcohols and then stir it over a double boiler until it 'melts' in. You can certainly notice a difference when it's 'melted' or otherwise dispersed through, because it changes consistency from a stiff dough to a runny batter.

 

[MelissaG]

Just put them in a grinder (wear a mask) and grind them into powder. That's what i do - way cheaper than buying the powder. Noodles take forever to melt.

What grinder do you recommend? I don't have one.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I have a nutri-bullet type thing that comes with two different blades. One for mixing drinks etc, and one for grinding coffee, grains etc. You might be able to just use the regular blade in your blender - make sure it seals tight because the SCI dust goes everywhere - keeps animals and children out.

 

[violets2217]

I make my shampoo bars with both powder and noodles and just put my dry ingredients into my stand mixer and turn it on low for a bit while I measure my liquid stuff. buy the time I add my melted ingredients the noodles are pretty much nonexistent?

 

[MelissaG]

I make my shampoo bars with both powder and noodles and just put my dry ingredients into my stand mixer and turn it on low for a bit while I measure my liquid stuff. buy the time I add my melted ingredients the noodles are pretty much nonexistent?

Whew, I can't imagine the dust.

I have a nutri-bullet type thing that comes with two different blades. One for mixing drinks etc, and one for grinding coffee, grains etc. You might be able to just use the regular blade in your blender - make sure it seals tight because the SCI dust goes everywhere - keeps animals and children out.

Do you think a blender would work? I have an extra one we don't use.

 

[violets2217]

Whew, I can't imagine the dust.

I put a towel over the mixer and let it go! Not too bad, plus I let it settle before I remove towel.

 

[Quilter99755]

I have an old coffee grinder that the tip of one blade broke off. I grind my noodles in that. Like @violets2217, I let the dust settle a bit and tap the top of the grinder a few times before I decant into my mixing bowl. And I cover the grinder and bowl with a towel while decanting. It's a little awkward when I'm scraping the last part out of the grinder, but I think that takes care of most of the dust.

 

[KiwiMoose]

All good options for you here ^ @MelissaG. It also does not have to be a blender "you don't use" because it can be washed out afterwards and used for food if you wish. It's not different to us washing our dishes in dishwashing liquid or the dishwasher - it's the same active ingredient. Just make sure they are well rinsed.

 

[MelissaG]

I put a towel over the mixer and let it go! Not too bad, plus I let it settle before I remove towel.

I was wondering if anyone else does that. That's how I make my bombs. Otherwise the air is full of baking soda and it's all over me too. What attachment do you use?

All good options for you here ^ @MelissaG. It also does not have to be a blender "you don't use" because it can be washed out afterwards and used for food if you wish. It's not different to us washing our dishes in dishwashing liquid or the dishwasher - it's the same active ingredient. Just make sure they are well rinsed.

I don't use anything I use for my business on anything else. That way I don't forget. But if the blender will work, then I'd be fine with that.

 

[violets2217]

I was wondering if anyone else does that. That's how I make my bombs. Otherwise the air is full of baking soda and it's all over me too. What attachment do you use?

The paddle attachment is what I use to mix the shampoo bars.

 

[MelissaG]

The paddle attachment is what I use to mix the shampoo bars.

That's what I use. for all of it. It's easier to get the batter off the attachment. I've been wondering if it would be a better idea to use the whipping attachment (I think that's the one) so it will mix better but I'm not sure it matters.

 

[violets2217]

That's what I use. for all of it. It's easier to get the batter off the attachment. I've been wondering if it would be a better idea to use the whipping attachment (I think that's the one) so it will mix better but I'm not sure it matters.

I always use the paddle, honestly I’m afraid it’s going to bend or damage the whisk attachment in some way, because I mix it all in my metal bowl & it’s gets pretty stiff/ thick after adding melted ingredients.

 

[Carolyne Thrasher]

@MelissaG try the SCI powder from Natures Garden when you run out of noodles. Grinding is a PIA. The time you same definitely pays for itself.

 

[MelissaG]

I tried melting my sci noodles tonight. It didn't work. I made a mistake and tried to nuke them and it melted the container. I still have a couple lbs of sci noodles left and I don't want to waste anything. Now I'm looking for a grinder. I'm moving to powdered asap though.

 

[glendam]

Have you tried melting it while mixed with another surfactant from the recipe? This is what Marie from “Humble bee and me” does. Link to it here; Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) - Humblebee & Me

 

[DeeAnna]

I tried melting my sci noodles tonight. It didn't work. I made a mistake and tried to nuke them and it melted the container. I still have a couple lbs of sci noodles left and I don't want to waste anything. Now I'm looking for a grinder. I'm moving to powdered asap though.

Like @glendam, I am also wondering if you heated the SCI alone. If you're really trying to melt the SCI all by itself, that's not going to be very realistic thing to do. The one data point I could find indicates SCI melts about 310 F / 154 C. That's awfully hot -- small wonder your plastic container melted before the SCI did.

SCI needs to be dissolved by mixing it with another surfactant in which it can be dissolved. I agree SCI needles are going to take a lot longer to dissolve than the powder. But if you don't want to powder the needles in a blender, they will eventually dissolve given enough time.

I use a "sous vide" method to dissolve SCI -- put the SCI and liquid surfactant in a heat-safe bag, seal the bag by rolling the open top several times and fastening with a binder clip, and immerse the lower part of the bag in a hot water bath. I keep the rolled top above the water. Massage the bag to mix the ingredients from time to time and apply a major dose of patience.

 

[Kcryss]

I melt mine with Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It does take a while, but it works very well. I use 38% SCI and only 19% cocamidopropyl betaine and heat to ~150/160. I try to keep it under the 160. It melts/dissolves completely. Not a single noodle left.