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<p><font size="2" face="sans-serif">Hi Mandy,</font><br>
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<font size="2" face="sans-serif">This sounds to me as though you are seeing glass degradation. Sometimes called glass disease, this phenomena manifests as iridescence and flaking and is caused by a leaching out of the alkali component of the glass. I have only seen this on archaeological glass, but it's possible that this is what's happening to your glassware. What kind of glassware do you have? And is it very old?</font><br>
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<font size="2" face="Arial"><b>Evelyn Ayre</b></font><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">Conservator - Intern | Restauratrice - Stagiaire</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">Preservation Services | Services de préservation</font><br>
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<font size="2" face="Arial">evelyn.ayre@pch.gc.ca</font><br>
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<br>
<img width="16" height="16" src="cid:1__=0ABBF604DFD782878f9e8a93df9386@pch.gc.ca" border="0" alt="Inactive hide details for Mandy Reid ---10/03/2014 01:20:01 AM---Apologies that this is off the current topic, but does anyone "><font size="2" color="#424282" face="sans-serif">Mandy Reid ---10/03/2014 01:20:01 AM---Apologies that this is off the current topic, but does anyone know what the shiny, flaky and slightl</font><br>
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<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">From: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">Mandy Reid <Mandy.Reid@austmus.gov.au></font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">To: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">"'nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu'" <nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu>, </font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Cc: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">Anders Hallan <Anders.Hallan@austmus.gov.au></font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Date: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">10/03/2014 01:20 AM</font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Subject: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">[Nhcoll-l] Translucent residue</font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Sent by: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</font><br>
<hr width="100%" size="2" align="left" noshade style="color:#8091A5; "><br>
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<font size="2" face="Calibri">Apologies that this is off the current topic, but does anyone know what the shiny, flaky and slightly mirror-like reside is that forms on the sides of glassware that has previously contained 5-10% seawater/formalin that has been buffered using sodium bicarbonate? It is very difficult to wash of glassware as a rule but it sometimes flakes off in small particles.</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri"> </font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri">I am wondering whether it is a harmful if inadvertently inhaled.</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri"> </font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri">Any ideas?</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri"> </font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri">Thanks</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri">Mandy</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Calibri"> </font><br>
<font size="1" color="#0046AD" face="Arial"><b>Dr Mandy Reid</b></font><font size="1" color="#0046AD" face="Arial"><br>
Collection Manager, Malacology, Australian Museum Research Institute</font><br>
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