[Nhcoll-l] Translucent residue

[Evelyn.Ayre at pch.gc.ca]

Hi Mandy,

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?

Evelyn Ayre
Conservator - Intern | Restauratrice - Stagiaire
Preservation Services | Services de préservation
Canadian Conservation Institute | Institut canadien de conservation
Department of Canadian Heritage | Ministère du Patrimoine canadien
1030 Innes Road | 1030 chemin Innes
Ottawa ON Canada K1B 4S7
evelyn.ayre at pch.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone  1 (613) 998-3721 ext | poste 235
Facsimile | Télécopieur 1 (613) 998-4721
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada



From:	Mandy Reid <Mandy.Reid at austmus.gov.au>
To:	"'nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu'" <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>,
Cc:	Anders Hallan <Anders.Hallan at austmus.gov.au>
Date:	10/03/2014 01:20 AM
Subject:	[Nhcoll-l] Translucent residue
Sent by:	nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu



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.

I am wondering whether it is a harmful if inadvertently inhaled.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Mandy

Dr Mandy Reid
Collection Manager, Malacology, Australian Museum Research Institute
Australian Museum 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
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