Re: [ARSCLIST] Cleaning moldy video tape

["Peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steven:

As Richard stated, the binder matrix (recording layer) is a mix of many
things.  In addition to the polymers (plastics), there are lubricants,
surfactants, abrasives, oligomers, numerous contaminants left over from the
manufacturing process and a potential "stew" of other components that the
manufacturers will not release.  The fungus does not actually eat the
"plastics" but, rather, the other components in the recording layer.

Unfortunately, this does mean that your audio tapes, including cassettes,
can develop mold if they are exposed to the wrong conditions.  In one job we
did we identified eight (8) different kinds of mold growing on a single
audio tape.

Let's hope that no one ever does breed effective "'plastic'-loving
organisms" to deal with "waste disposal" until someone else has already
developed effective "alternate" energy sources.  As plastics are made of
petrochemicals, any "plastic-loving" organism would likely be very happy
gobbling down oil.  I pay enough for gas as it is without some critter
eating up what is left!

Peter Brothers
President
SPECS BROS., LLC
(973)777-5055
www.specsbros.com

Restoration and Disaster Recovery Service Since 1983

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx]On Behalf Of steven c
> Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 7:13 PM
> To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Cleaning moldy video tape
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > > As well, since videotape consists of (AFAIK) a plastic base
> and a layer
> > > of magnetic material (usually metal oxides?), it would seem that any
> > > mould on the tape would be "eating" some sort of surface contaminant
> > > on the tape, rather than the actual tape. Does this have a "side
> > > effect" which can "un-bind" tape and oxide?
> > >
> > > Steven C. Barr
> > >
> > Steven:
> >
> > I'm not certain if this posting was tongue-in-cheek since VHS and Beta
> > videotape recording layers are a binder matrix containing ferric oxide
> > recording pigments similar to most reel-to-reel audio tapes.  Testing
> shows
> > that the fungus is indeed eating components in the binder matrix- no
> > external contaminant is required (except moisture).  Some of the most
> common
> > reactions caused by fungus can include serious chemical
> degradation of the
> > binder, inter-wrap adhesion, tape deformation and binder-base adhesion
> > failure (especially along the tape edges where exposure is most severe).
> I
> > imagine this last effect could be called "un-binding" tape and oxide?
> >
> Well, it wasn't tongue-in-cheek...I had no idea there were plastic (or,
> more correctly, "organic-compound") eating fungi! And, yes, when the
> oxide starts to fall/peel/otherwise loosen itself from the plastic
> tape "body," that is what I meant by "un-binding." Am I reading
> your post correctly in thinking that the "binder matrix" (which,
> I assume, is the magnetic coating applied to the plastic tape)
> is what these fungi "eat?" It's hard to imagine Earth's hydrocarbon-
> based life forms being able to survive on that compound...but, OTOH,
> if we could breed "plastic"-loving organisms, we'd solve one of
> our biggest problems in waste disposal!
>
> Then, again...that conjures of visions of mouldy 45's or LP's...not
> to mention mouldy Corvettes...(t-i-c, BTW)
>
> Steven C. Barr
> (does this mean my audio tapes, including cassettes, can go "mouldy?"...)
>
>