introduction
Chuck,
Is there a solvent that will help remove the goo without causing additional damage to the underlying material?
I have 3 small VHF radios that are unusable because of the goo, which is too bad because otherwise, they electrically work very well.
I would be happy to give them another (even if short) lease on life :)
Didier
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while I do other things...
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Harris cfharris@erols.com
Sender: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:36:35
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurementvolt-nuts@febo.com
Reply-To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement volt-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] introduction
The only real way to tell with plastics is to subject them to the test
of time and environment. The basic problem is one of plasticizer migration.
Many plastics have an added goo that improves the way they flow in molding,
and softens the plastic so that it is suitable for use. The plasticizer
evaporates slowly out of the plastic making it shrink, and leaving it very
brittle. Some plasticizers migrate to the surface leaving the plastic very
sticky... vinyl (PVC), particularly soft vinyl, which is heavy in plasticizer,
has that problem. That plasticizer migration is what makes xerox'd pages
stick to vinyl binders, leaving the lettering behind on the vinyl...
Some of the ancient plastics aren't really plastic at all... bakelite is an
example.... and they hold up incredibly well. The common characteristic,
in my opinion, no plasticizer. The much fabled BPA is one of the plasticizers
that causes problems if it isn't used just right.... It also causes breast
development in men, but that is another story.
-Chuck Harris
Marvin E. Gozum wrote:
Is there a way to decipher plastics potential longevity in a finished
product?
I'm impressed plastic parts on many HP equipment endure intact over 20+
years, some barely discoloring. I can't tell what type they are, but the
more durable plastics often feel hefty and solid. Likewise, Fluke DMM
have the same 'feeling' and endure for decades.
On a side note, casing of some iPhones barely 2-3 years old are
spontaneously cracking, so it can be made quite badly too.
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In message <892283778-1304019556-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-21032
56400-@bda710.bisx.prod.on.blackberry>, shalimr9@gmail.com writes:
Is there a solvent that will help remove the goo without causing
additional damage to the underlying material?
Someone posted a recipe on the net last year, using a C=64 as example.
The process is autocatalytic, so the trick was to move the pH level
out of the autocatalytic range.
Can't remember the details, but it was kitchen chemistry, soap and
soda or something like that...
--
Poul-Henning Kamp | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20
phk@FreeBSD.ORG | TCP/IP since RFC 956
FreeBSD committer | BSD since 4.3-tahoe
Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.
Were you thinking of "retrobrite"
Sent from my Banana jr (tm) Mobile Device
On Apr 28, 2011, at 1:27 PM, "Poul-Henning Kamp" phk@phk.freebsd.dk wrote:
In message <892283778-1304019556-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-21032
56400-@bda710.bisx.prod.on.blackberry>, shalimr9@gmail.com writes:
Is there a solvent that will help remove the goo without causing
additional damage to the underlying material?
Someone posted a recipe on the net last year, using a C=64 as example.
The process is autocatalytic, so the trick was to move the pH level
out of the autocatalytic range.
Can't remember the details, but it was kitchen chemistry, soap and
soda or something like that...
--
Poul-Henning Kamp | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20
phk@FreeBSD.ORG | TCP/IP since RFC 956
FreeBSD committer | BSD since 4.3-tahoe
Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.
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and follow the instructions there.
Hi Marv,
I don't think it's possible to seal the plasticizer in. And, I don't
think it is really all that possible to add plasticizer once it has
left the scene. I think that is what some of the products like nuvinyl,
and armorall are attempting... but not all that successfully.
Notice that with new plastic binders there is a strong aroma that hangs
around... but as they age, you can't smell it as much. That is the
culprit.
You are right, this is only peripherally related to volt-nuts.
-Chuck Harris
Marv Gozum @ JHN wrote:
Thanks Chuck, that's very informative. That pretty much describes the
life cycle of a lot of old plastic I've encountered.
You say evaporate, is possible then to seal plastic parts to prevent
plasticizer migration, and prolong the parts life, even if its already
old but still has not fallen apart? Add any kind of plasticizer to
revitalize old plastic?
Yes, vinyl binders seem to almost weep something, that doesn't seem
good! I see Bakelite endures over time, but it very ceramic like and
tends to cracks if dropped.
Sorry all, at most this should be discussed at the HP forum group, so
this is my last topic digression on the volt-nuts forum.
Hi Didier,
I have had some luck with removing the goo from vinyl by using
the solvent in clear PVC primer... tetrahydrofuran, and methyl
ethyl ketone... The MSDS doesn't say it is all that bad, but it
sure smells like it is really nasty stuff. It will wipe off
the sticky goo, but it eventually returns.
The place where it really bugs me is vinyl handles on some
equipment... you pick it up and ewwww!
-Chuck Harris
shalimr9@gmail.com wrote:
Chuck,
Is there a solvent that will help remove the goo without causing additional damage to the underlying material?
I have 3 small VHF radios that are unusable because of the goo, which is too bad because otherwise, they electrically work very well.
I would be happy to give them another (even if short) lease on life :)
Didier