[ARSCLIST] Fwd: [ARSCLIST] Another little chemistry observation

[Don Tait <Dontaitchicago@xxxxxxx>]

  Richard is correct about Scotch/3M auto-threading reels. They were and are 
a menace. Another bad, apparently untested idea passed off as progress. I used 
a few when they were introduced during the 1960s. Some years later I noticed 
just what Richard mentioned: the tape on the inside of the spools was sticky 
and irremediably damaged. The leaking adhesive had made the coating containing 
the sound glue to the top of the layer wound below. My tapes were Mylar, not 
acetate, but it didn't matter.

  Don Tait
I just transferred a reel of acetate tape that had been stored on a 
Scotch/3M auto-threading reel. It has solid sides (no windows) and 
three springy clips in the walls near the hubs. From the outside, the 
clips are chrome-ish. From the inside they are green.

There was some starting of blocking (layer-to-layer adhesion) of the 
wraps of tape near the hub.

There was no significant vinegar smell.

The tape/reel had been stored at approx. 21C 43%RH with limited 
swings for the last year, prior to that I don't know, but I think it 
had been in climate controlled storage.

I suspect this odd reel is not allowing the centre of the tape back 
to breathe much and concentrating whatever outgassing of the tape 
pack. Also, another very loose tape pack on the outside (not in the centre).

I'm not sure what this means, but I would think this supports the 
need to at least examine the acetate tapes in your collection and 
also look especially if you have this reel.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard L. Hess                           email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vignettes 
Media                           web:   http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
Aurora, Ontario, Canada             (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
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