A n Easy Method for Removing Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride Tubing from Adapters Almost everyone who has ever worked with flexible PVC tubing (e.g., Tygone brand) is aware that its removal from glass, metal, or plastic adapters, tubulation, tubing, and rods can be quite a frustrating challenge. I t may also lead to serious cuts or lacerations, should the glass or ~ l a s t i cfittine: break durine the attemot. Flexible PVC tubine is difficult enoueh to out on an~adapter, buttaking it off iseven more t'rouhlesome; it behaves as though it mere cemented on. The usual methods of removing flexible PVC tubing, i.e., pushing-pulling, beating with steam, hot air, etc., sometimes work and sometimes fail but are almost always more time consuming than they are worth. While hscking away at the tubing with scissors, knives, or razor blades are often revertcd to, it n.u.t be remembered thilt thrsp a w xrnerally unsafe, as well u uunsure pnwedurei. A truly ample 2nd foul-prooi \wy to quickl\. ;and s~iclyremove Resihle 1'YC tubing from f i t r i t w has been devised. 11 corl*t,ta of nukine : ~ m m lnutdl l run rhe rubi~cc'slio with a fincer uail. or, if you bite your nails, a safety razor blade,or other shmp tool, and dispensing a few h o p s oi acetone onto this. Like magic, the tubing splits open in s. zipper-like manner freeing the adapter. Finally, snip off the split end, usually 1-2 om, and the tubing is ready to be used again.
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INC. CINCINNATI MILACRON CAEMICAL~ 500 JERSEY AVENUE NEW BRUNSWICK,NEWJERSEY08903
192
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Journal of Chemical Education
ROBERTD. DWORKIN
