Is Acetone really the trick?

I`ve just done it, 3 Aluminium coins submerged in Acetone in a sealed glass jar.
How long do I leave them ?

 

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It didn't take more than a minute for the coins that I did a few years ago.

 

Well these have had a good 35 minutes.
I`ve rinsed them off and there is no noticeable change.

 

Interesting result, Davey. I wonder if the circulated state makes a difference, because the ones that I bathed were UNC.

This will be a variable in my upcoming experiment.

 

OK then

 

We know that.

 

Like @desertgem and @physics-fan3.14 I searched the metallurgical and material science literature and found nothing that showed acetone reacted with Aluminum or the Al2O3 layer.

I still believe the reactions must have something to do with outside contaminants but have no data to support it

 

Hoop, I'm hoping that my upcoming experiment will help with the contaminant front.

 

Don't you mean "raises handS in embarrassment"?

 

It won't do it if you use a circulated coin. Try an aluminum proof for the best "worst" results.

 

People have SG their lips , eyelids, toes trying to put fake reptile claws on, etc.before. Surgeons use it for spongy internal organs they can't sew or staple. Watch out for that accelerator stuff though ~ makes the SG super fast.

 

I’ll throw this out there. I believe that most aluminum products are given an anodized protective coating. Don’t know if coins are treated this way. My pontoon boat after a few years developed stains. I acid washed the aluminum and it removed the stains. But the trade off was that I also washed away the anodizing. So now the pontoon logs stain much more rapidly. I now have to acid wash the thing twice a year. Just a thought.

 

Just a few thoughts on what could go wrong, using acetone.

It's been said that acetone can take on some kind of a change if not stored properly. Something to do with exposure to light.

Some think they can save used acetone and use it again. Not a good idea.

Others think that one quick bath is enough. I don't agree. This leaves some of the junk on the coin. As a normal, I go with at least three baths using fresh acetone each time. Just for fun, put a drop of the used acetone on a glass slide and put it under a scope. That gives you an idea of what you are leaving on the coin.

Acetone can attack the stems used on Qtips, plastic or paper. Same with the container you use for the baths. I really like glass.

Next is the transfer of junk from one coin to the next. I believe in working with one coin at a time.

 

Oh, good golly, yes, acid will attack aluminum oxide (the coating formed by anodization). And if you're applying acid to those things twice a year, sooner or later you're going to perforate them. (I'm not a boat guy, but from the chemistry, I don't see how it could be any other way.)

At least if they develop pinholes you shouldn't sink quickly, though...!

 

I am going to try it first on my silver melt coins.

I've used acetone for many years to clean old forged steel guns (another hobby). It's a harsh chemical and should be respected as so.

 

It would be a small blessing if that old boat sank.

 

Just use a little Flex-Seal. They advertise it so their claims must be true, right?

 

Never thought of it as a "harsh" chemical, it's just a solvent.

 

I think you mean "and let it evaporate" then you don't need a scope...