AirPod melted with alcohol.

[iPhisch]

It was a pure 70% EtOH/30% distilled water mixture from my lab, so it definitely doesn't have acetone or anything in it.

And it's not very interesting, it just melted the top couple layers of plastic and it roughened up the surface. Funny enough the roughness means they stay in my ears better than before...

You shouldn't use even dilute organic solvents on ABS Plastic, and it has a B compatibility rating with Ethanol. You didn't melt the plastic, you started to dissolve/etch the polished surface. Come on, lab guy!

"B-Good indicates that the material is slightly affected but not to the point of being unsuitable."

http://www.kelco.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/abs-chemical-compatibility-guide.pdf

 

[BigMcGuire]

Wow - this blew up a bit! Didn't mean to be a cause of that!

I just know OP was talking about alcohol dissolving plastic - as others have noticed, it's probably the polished surface.

I brought up my shaver because it uses an automatic alcohol cleaning system -- after years of that, the plastic top part is corroded away.

I realize not directly related but figured I'd come up with something similar. :/

 

[w00t951]

You shouldn't use even dilute organic solvents on ABS Plastic, and it has a B compatibility rating with Ethanol. You didn't melt the plastic, you started to dissolve/etch the polished surface. Come on, lab guy!

"B-Good indicates that the material is slightly affected but not to the point of being unsuitable."

http://www.kelco.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/abs-chemical-compatibility-guide.pdf

Hey I'm a microbiologist, not a chemist! I've just gotten so accustomed to wiping my electronics down with rubbing alcohol that I sort of mindlessly cleaned my Airpods with them.

 

[saltd]

I’ve used 91% isopropyl alcohol on mine weekly for over a year and haven’t had this occur. It’s the easiest way to dissolve the earwax on the mesh (gross, I know, but I’m sure most of use have this issue)

Or maybe I just need to clean my ears out more often