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  Acetone-based chemical spill on space medals

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Author Topic:   Acetone-based chemical spill on space medals
JBoe
Member

Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 10-12-2015 03:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was putting away some of medallions and inadvertently a small drop of an acetone-based chemical was spilled and caused a reaction.

I immediately rinsed the medal with water and dried with a paper towel. The result is a white spot were it came into contact with it.

Is there anything that can remove that whitish spot and restore it to its bronze coloring? Thanks!

OLDIE
Member

Posts: 267
From: Portsmouth, England
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 10-12-2015 03:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OLDIE     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since acetone does not attack metal, there are two possibilities here. First, there may be some sort of acid/alkali in the acetone which has attacked the metal, or second, the acetone itself may have removed a varnish or "bronzed" effect coating on the medallion.

Can't help with the first problem, but have two suggestions for the second. If possible, contact the seller, who may be able to help. If not, a rather more drastic option is to remove ALL the coating with acetone and then re-bronze somehow.

I know that there used to be "metallic" effect waxes available which could be rubbed on surfaces to give a metallic effect. Maybe some of the modellers on this forum could also give advice here.

SkyMan1958
Member

Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 10-12-2015 05:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Acetone is commonly used by coin collectors to take gunk off of a coin without affecting the underlying surfaces and/or toning on a coin. I notice that you mentioned that the chemical spilt was acetone based, by which I assume there were OTHER chemicals within the liquid. Those would be the chemicals that would attack the metal.

Unfortunately I do not know how to remedy your problem at this point, but at an absolute minimum, in order to stop any future chemical reactions on the surface of your medallion from the spill, you should rinse the medallion in DISTILLED water. Distilled water will cleanse the medallion's surfaces of the chemical spill without adding any more chemical contamination to the surfaces. You can find distilled water in any supermarket (and most neighborhood markets) these days.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 10-12-2015 06:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks guys for all the help, I really appreciate it! Unfortunately, I didn't use distilled water, but regular tap water (well water) to clean it off.

The acetone-based chemical's composition is: Acetone, DI Water, Propylene Glycol, Vitamin E, Red #33 (CI17200), Perfume, 7-Dimethyl -7-, Hydroxyoctanal Alcohol, 2-Phenethyl Alcohol, Geranyl Acetate, Geraniol, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmarosa Oil, Benzyl Acetate, Alpha-Amyl Cinnamic Aldehyde, a-(trichloromethyl) Benzyl Acetate, Tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(methylprop-1-enyl) pyran, Citronellol.

I'm sure the damage is irreversible, but small enough to live with. Again any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

All times are CT (US)

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