Quote Originally Posted by Jpfalt
I am assuming that you are shooting recycled PVC, which is prone to outgassing hydrogen chloride which explains the acid pH in the water and the aggressive surface corrosion on the aluminum.
No, it's curbside collection #2 HDPE and LDPE plastics, there should be no PVC in it... no PET or styrene or PP either. That is one of the things I am going to address tomorrow.

The water should not be turning acid to this extent. I am recalling my plastic chemistry and PE plastics shouldn't be causing the acid.

It has to be coming from material contamination.

My primary guess would be PVC film cap liners, labels and stuff like that... that is if there is a vinyl contamination.


THAT I can test via flame-test and float-testing.

Second guess would be something like soap or bug-spray or pool chemicals in trace amounts on the waste material reacting with each other and concentrating in the cooling bath.