RE: [AV Media Matters] acetate tape and plasticizer crystals

[judyjones@csus.edu]

vinegar syndrome isn't fit for humans either.  It can make your eyes
water and skin itch and I suggest you wear gloves and long sleeves
and a face mask when handling the film.

-----Original Message-----
From: llufrio@icaic.inf.cu [mailto:llufrio@icaic.inf.cu]
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 7:05 AM
To: AV-Media-Matters@topica.com
Subject: RE: [AV Media Matters] acetate tape and plasticizer crystals

Hello, Nathan.

You seem to be having a severe case of the vinegar syndrome. The
acetic acid smell must have struck you too, even if you don't
mention it.

White cristalline dust shows on motion picture film also, in the
latter stages of acetate base decomposition.

I have no exeperience about washing or wet cleaning audio tape, and
wouldn't reccommend it either, since binder and magnetic coating
might dissapear altogether.

Unfortunately most of the people with experience in audio tape
restoration seem to be away at NAB, so maybe you'll have to wait a
few days for a tested solution.

In the meanwhile, separate these tapes (and all other acetate base
tapes that smell like a well dressed salad) from the rest of your
collection (vinegar syndrome is contagious) and store them at a low
temperature DRY environment, say about  40F and 30-40% RH. This will
slow down base decomposition and give you time to transfer your
recordings in a while.

All acetate based media should be stored cold and dry, specially dry.

José E. Llufrío
<llufrio@icaic.inf.cu>