Why Won't Plastic Pots Melt When Filled with Water?

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    Fusion
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why plastic pots do not melt when filled with water and heated. Participants explore the thermal properties of water and plastic in the context of boiling and melting points, as well as the implications of heat absorption.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that water boils at 100°C, which is below the melting point of most plastics, suggesting that the water prevents the plastic from reaching temperatures that would cause it to melt.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the heat absorbed by the water keeps the plastic from reaching its ignition temperature, thus preventing melting.
  • A further clarification is made regarding the difference between melting and ignition temperatures of plastics, with an example of plastic damage occurring at lower temperatures without fire hazards.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the role of water in heat absorption and its effect on preventing the melting of plastic. However, there are nuances in the explanations regarding melting versus ignition temperatures that remain unaddressed.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the specific types of plastics and their melting points are not explicitly stated, and the discussion does not resolve the potential variability in plastic behavior under different conditions.

szubaidi
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hello
I am a new members in this forum
I have one question
- Why do not melts plastic Pots If it filled with water?
thank you.o:)
 
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Please restate your question. Maybe you could describe the situation you are asking about.
 
OK .
when I fill flask by water and if I put it on the fire the flask not melts and this flask is made from plastic
I do this experiment
sorry my english language is bad
 
You can boil water on an open fire in a paper cup because the walls of the container in contact with the water cannot be hotter then the water. The water will be at most 100C, this is below the temperature which paper burns.

edit: plastic melts at temps greater then water boils so it works the same.

btw this has NOTHING to do with fusion.
 
Last edited:
It is not the latent heat of fusion that prevents the plastic from melting, its just that the water absorbs this heat, as Integral said.
 
szubaidi said:
OK .
when I fill flask by water and if I put it on the fire the flask not melts and this flask is made from plastic
I do this experiment
sorry my english language is bad
Hii
simple.The water absorbs the heat and so the plastic doesnot reach its ignition temperature.So it doesnot melt.Once the water gets emptied the plastic starts burnin/melting
 
Milind_shyani said:
The water absorbs the heat and so the plastic doesnot reach its ignition temperature.So it doesnot melt.

Just one clarification here, since the OP might not be aware. The melting temperature of (most) plastics is far below the ignition temperature. I've damaged plastic bowls just by throwing in some bacon straight from the frying pan. There was no fire hazard whatsoever, but the grease melted right through.
 

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