How much heat can LEGO bricks withstand?

Question

I was thinking on making a decorative LEGO candle holder. It would be made out of regular ABS LEGO bricks, but also transparent ones. Because there will be an open flame involved, I want to make sure my LEGO bricks don't melt.

You might consider using an LED imitation "flameless" candle. These come in different sizes that may fit your idea, and some even have a wax exterior. — aedia λ, Nov 07 '11 at 16:16

score 32 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:47

32

ABS maximum temperature is 80°C (176°F) and melt at 105°C (221°F)
Polycarbonate plastic used for transparent bricks melt at 267°C (512.6°F)

Since a candle flame has a temperature in excess of 1000°C (1832°F). I would advise against making a candle holder of LEGO bricks.

Plastic types are explained on this question.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:47

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answered Nov 03 '11 at 21:42

jfyelle

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ABS melting at 105C/220F is most likely the reason why LEGO discourage the dishwasher for cleaning bricks. – jfyelle Nov 07 '11 at 19:23
And it should be noted that ABS can deform under much lower heat than even 80C. Even direct sunlight on a hot summer day can warp parts. – MindS1 Nov 20 '18 at 14:01

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 07 '11 at 15:25

I had Lego MOCs loose their clutch on me after being left in a car for 9 hours during the summer. Outside temp was about 100F, so inside was quite a bit hotter. After this, I had to glue the MOCs back together.

So, the shorter answer is that I'd imagine that a candle could damage the plastics at least to the point where the bricks would not hold together very well.

How much heat can LEGO bricks withstand?

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