Could someone please post a photo of a coin with PVC damage. I have heard alot about it but would like a visual. Does it discolor the entire coin or just some gunk here and there. Is it possible for coins to be in PVC flips for 10 or 20 years and have no damage if other factors were optimal? Thanks, Lack
Yes, to everything you asked. There is no rule. PVC residue can accumulate on a coin in as little as a week or 20 years later. It can damage the entire coin or just one small area. It can sometimes be removed with no visible damage afterwards and it can be removed and the whole coin can be trashed. It can be white in color, green, brown, black and every other color you can think of. It can be gooey and sticky, or hard and flaky. There is no limit to the possible variables. And every single coin that has been damaged by PVC residue - will look different than every other one that has suffered similar damage. There have been quite a few threads on the subject and many pics posted over the years. Just do a search on PVC and you'll find more than you want to look at.
I bought some acetone yesterday at the Home Hardware but i think that I'm going to return it as it is not pure in my opinion. When I let the acetone evaporate a thin blue-rainbow looking film stays, which I interpreted as residue, the film can be easily smeared in my petri dish. Please confirm that this is residue and that pure acetone should leave zero amount of any residue aside from traces of water. Thanks!
^^^^^^ I don't really know if you are asking if the residue comes from the acetone or the PVC. I suspect you need to do several more rinses with the pure acetone to get all the PVC off. And most of the PVC I have seen is a light blue. I soon will be doing some conserving on a bunch of kennedy proofs with PVC. Proofs are a bit harder to work with and there probably are some of them that will not survive the ordeal. But maybe I can get half the lot looking good.
Victor , I didn't put the coins in acetone yet. I simply did a test to see if the acetone was pure. When I let it evaporate on it's own a thin film could be observed, like when gasoline is observed in a puddle of water. This lead me to believe that the acetone was not 100% pure , and I wouldn't for the life of me ,bathe my babies in tainted bath hope you get what I'm talking about...
I found a bottle of fingernail polish remover that is 100% acetone. It was very cheap and works great, just make sure it says 100% if you purchase some.
I have seen this too , this might be a better alternative then going to the home hardware store again and getting quazi-molested by the old woman at the cash register. Why did she insist in feeling my arms , no clue. Was she scary looking ; affirmative.
I have to ask if the petri plate was new and glass? If it had contained something before, I would repeat the experiment a couple of times to be sure it was from the acetone. Also, having been a microbiologist for years in the past, I know that glass petri plates are rather rare today as most are a resistant plastic and are variable in acetone resistency. When the new science department discarded all glass petri plates to go with plastic ( no dishwasher required, just autoclave), I picked a few up for use with acetone. Plates which had been washed could retain a film, as can glassware from a dishwasher or done by hand. In my glass petri plates, the acetone from Walmart ( gal. can) doesn't leave any residue. Looking for an ecuse to go back Jim
Pure Acetone may be purchased at a beauty supply shop. ie. Sally's, etc. Hardware and paint store acetone may say pure, but it is not. Would be skeptical of fingernail polish remover also since it may contain perfumes etc.
I used to get mine from the paint store, and it was always 100% acetone. But it used to leave a residue too if allowed to evaporate, which is why I have always advocated a final rinse in distilled water if acetone is used on coins. And I hav never advocated using it (acetone) just to use it. But instead only to use it if it needed to be used - for the same reason. But of course everybody has always told me that I was crazy for having such opinions :kewl:
Exactly why a person should always check such products. Even brand new in a can, Acetone and many other solvents can become contaminated. To explain how and why it would be easier it you could visit a cannin company. You would see the process in making any cans for any product and realize the possibilities of errors. For one thing the inside of the cans are coated for Acetone but one really small inperfection in this coating makes the Acetone able to reach the metal of the can. Even the process of the top being placed can cause impurities to enter. Normally the so called Quality Control Systems monitor these possibilities but nothing is perfect. Also, not to slander a store, but people have been known to open a can of some such solution, use it, place back on the shelf. Also, not to slander a store, but if you do take that back, make a mark on the bottom of the can. Wait a few days, go back and see if they just didn't put your can back on the shelf. If you open a can of Acetone you should be able to place some on a CLEAN glass dish and it should evaporate with NO RESIDUE. If there is a residue, that Acetone has been contaminated and you have no idea by what nor for how long. And as to fingernail polish remover being pure Acetone. I've never seen that but may be possible. The reason is obvious. Fingernail polish remover is purposely made to add chemicals to stop or slow down any dangerous dangers to a fingernail. Fingernail polish removers are usually done on nails in close quarters such with someone leaning directly over the hand. Such fumes that close are really dedrimental for health reasons. Also, most contain substances for odor purposes. I would suggest you carefully read the lable on any fingernail polish that says pure Acetone. Please check out the ATSDR web site for such substances.
I was going to check that bottle of fingernail polish remover for other ingredients, but my daughter's room is as organized as my coin collection. If I find it I'll let you know.
I found it. The label says 100% acetone, but the ingredients list denatonium benzoate. I wonder what that stuff is, and if it is completely volatile.
As I mentioned something is wrong here. How can something be 100% anything if other ingrediants are present? For example if you had 100% water but it contained Salt, would that still be 100% water? Denatonium benzoate is a substance put into some solutions to stop nail biting since it tastes and smells so bad kids will not put thier fingers in thier mouths if you put that stuff on thier fingers. Although the product does not show short term medical problems, long term usage is not recommended. Don't know how old your sister is but something is wrong.
Try this one. Its most common use has nothing to do with biting nails. It is used and often required by law in antifreeze, alcohols, nail polish remover, etc to prevent kids from drinking them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatonium What on earth prompted this aside from the fact that it is his daughter, not his sister?
10 ppm is 1/1000 of 1%, 10/1000000=.00001. There are probably other unlisted contaminants at several ppm. Spock likes the flavor of denatonium.
