Gallium Wetting

[dexters_lab]

long shot this i know... but

I'm trying to find a material to store some gallium in, gallium seems to be very 'wet' as in it leaves particles behind on lots of things when it's liquid including the plastic container i have some stored in now and it seems to just want to spread itself about!

was wondering if there is some plastic that it doesn't wet to?

[ElektroQuark]

Did you tried PTFE?

[Mechanical Menace]

Have you tried coating the container by rubbing some of the gallium into it? I know that works with glass and quartz, maybe it will with some plastic?

[dexters_lab]

not tried anything yet, was waiting for suggestions, i didn't want to make a mess with it trying!! 

[Mechanical Menace]

i didn't want to make a mess with it trying!! 

It's almost impossible not to make a mess while playing with gallium. If you get it on your bare hands it goes everywhere you touch, the smallest amount spreads far too and is a right bugger to clean up lol.

I'm sure you already know this but be very careful with it around other metals...

EDIT:

Oh and don't trust the claims that it's non toxic. It is at least mildly toxic* and unlike mercury also wets skin so it's easier to be poisoned by it through just handling instead of by ingesting or inhaling it.

[SeanB]

I would guess you will not get wetting with a PET plastic bottle, and you will definitely not get wetting with either PTFE or a wax lined bottle ( it will hold HF acid no problem, though the glass lid will dissolve). Wax though will need to be kept in a fridge, and this will also solidify the Gallium as well so it is less likely to wet.

[dexters_lab]

thanks for the suggestions guys

yea i am aware of gallium's effects on other (most!) metals, i will be experimenting! 

[jwm_]

gallium wets everything it seems. there are some ideas on this thread on how to do it, but I have not tried any. I do have a high vacuum chamber so may try sputtering it onto glass, seems like something Ben Krasnow would have already experimented with.

http://scitoys.com/board/messages/1/202.html?1263264803