what is the best solvent to disolve plastic

[skwiff]

what is the best solvent/acid/base for dissolving the plastic found in dolls? i want to do a video of a certain annoying canadian 'singer' metion no names dissolving. but seeing as dissolving the actual person is unlawful, the next best thing is to use heavy chemicals and a plastic doll

 

 

[johnheritage]

Dichloromethane may work (paint stripper / methylene chloride), as it tends to melt a large percentage of plastics.

 

The video may need to be sped up to make it more impressive.

 

Dichloromethane is a suspect carcinogen, so you may want to keep it off your skin and do this outdoors depending on how it'll be spread around.

Edited April 23, 2011 by johnheritage

[rktpro]

Polystyrene dissolves in benzene or toluene.

Polyurethane can dissolve in acetone (CH₃)₂CO.

Polyethylene is resistant to most organic solvents.

Edited April 23, 2011 by rktpro

[hypervalent_iodine]

Benzene and toluene are horribly toxic and DCM is not much better. I have to ask, is dissolving a plastic doll really necessary? In any case, err on the side of caution using these chemicals.