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Subject:
Glow Sticks and the resins or chemicals they contain
Category: Science > Chemistry Asked by: caper2-ga List Price: $12.00 |
Posted:
24 Mar 2005 17:57 PST
Expires: 23 Apr 2005 18:57 PDT Question ID: 500026 |
My daughter placed a Glow Stick (phenolic oxalate ester and H2O2) on her Electronic Keyboard and over a few days there was a splatter area up to 6 to 8 inches away from the glow stick with a substance (resembles clear solidified syrup, slightly sticky and very hard to remove. The plastic under the stick was melted (on piano's bookrack), and it was very clear the solution did not 'run' but exploded over the keys. My question is how do I remove this substance from the keys? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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Subject:
Re: Glow Sticks and the resins or chemicals they contain
From: purkinje-ga on 29 Mar 2005 21:56 PST |
One guess is that the oxalate polymerized. This would be easy to remove with an acid or base catalyst. The problem is that this is also the basic structure of many plastics, so you want to use enough acid or base to catalyze the breakdown of the oxalate (assuming this is what happened) without ruining the piano keys (you probably knew that). So start with a weak acid like vinegar and then go to a spray cleaner with HCl, then if none of that works maybe try that goo-be-gone stuff that you find at walmart, etc. (which is actually not an acid or base, but a volatile carbon based compound, pretty much like gasoline). My worry with that last option though is that it will most likely ruin your keys. Also, do not use acetone or nail-polish remover-- this can damage any plastic (as I sadly learned in Ochem lab). |
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