RE: [AV Media Matters] Audio Vinegar Syndrome

[russm@idirect.com]

Sure, it's fairly simple.  The reaction is autocatalytic, the presence of
acetic acid speeds up the reaction.  The acidic gas travels through the
air, if it encounters another acetate base the reaction there starts even
quicker than it would have had the acetic acid not been present.

It's especially a problem in a closed system, no fresh air or filtration.

Russ M.

From: sgreen@westernfolklife.org
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 11:10:28 -0700
Subject: [AV Media Matters] Audio Vinegar Syndrome

>Most articles that mention vinegar syndrome--  whether refering to
>film or magnetic tape--  say that it can "infect" other acetate
>based materials nearby.  Just now on this list, a person said it was
>"contagious."  I'm interested by these medical type analogies and
>wonder if anyone could provide a good explanation of what exactly
>happens that would cause vinegar syndrom to spead like a disease to
>adjacent materials?