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How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue.
I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell.... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
Does it smell slightly sweet?
Does it smell at all? Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On 16/04/2019 18:56, three_jeeps wrote:
The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell.... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. This goo issue is coming up quite regularly with the rubberised coating applied to plastics for various type of consumer, DIY and computing equipment. I'd heard stories of success with Car Brake fluid. -- Adrian C |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
In article ,
three_jeeps wrote: The black case of these= devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure Was the device originally a matt/rubberised finish of some kind, rather than smooth (or textured-moulded) plastic? I have a Topfield "Black Panther" model PVR that has a plastic front, which was "enhanced" with some kind of matt coating. Over time, it became sticky, as you say it hasn't ... been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of= any sort, etc. .... so it seems to be a natural failure of the coating with time. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, In the end, I did manage to clean it off, but it took a lot of work with isopropanol -- it appears to be doing very little, but persistence paid off. acetone, MEK .... may eat the plastic underneath too, so use with care. -- --------------------------------------+------------------------------------ Mike Brown: mjb[-at-]signal11.org.uk | http://www.signal11.org.uk |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote:
I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John There's no cure as far as I know. The plastic itself is depolymerizing with age. I've seen modern plastics go gooey and others become brittle as crackers. You can try abrading what's left of the surface and coating it with a barrier - like paint perhaps. Maybe depriving it of air as well as light will slow the decomposition down. |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Tuesday, 16 April 2019 18:56:07 UTC+1, three_jeeps wrote:
I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John No solution that we know of. Talc or cornstarch provides a temporary bodge. Several solvents can remove it but it's very slow going. Brake fluid has been recommended as one of the best. Heatshrink sleeving it is another option, or perhaps tape. NT |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
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How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
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How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On 17/04/2019 12:17, N_Cook wrote:
On 16/04/2019 19:04, wrote: Does it smell slightly sweet? Does it smell at all? Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA If it smelt of vinegar, then possibly "dolls disease" breakdown of old PVC/Vinyl , the soft plastic as used to make dolls. Since the last time of googling dolls disease, this informative piece has emerged, as 1996 presumably they're creating an online archive https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15020282-700-technology-sad-doll-disease-ends-in-tears/ the infectious nature sounds like what happens in vcr/cassette players, where when one rubber band goes gooey , others start to go gooey although not in direct contact. |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote:
I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On 17/04/2019 19:15, three_jeeps wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote: I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J Sustained unusual humidity or temperature ? |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 20:04:08 +0100, N_Cook wrote:
On 17/04/2019 19:15, three_jeeps wrote: On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote: I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J Sustained unusual humidity or temperature ? I had that same issue with a Grundig G6 portable AM/FM/SW radio. After a number of years (maybe 7 or 8), the non-slip material on the outside of the case turned gooey/sticky. Like the OP, I tried all sort of things (alcohol,etc) without luck. I found a post somewhere where someone recommended a solvent to fix it and ordered some. It still wasn't easy to get the goo off, but I did eventually remove it. The radio still worked great. I wish I could remember the stuff I used. I will try to find it and add to this thread if I succeed. By the way, there was no unusual temperature or humidity involved. The radio was in a desk drawer in an air conditioned house for 99.9 % of the time. Pat |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 17:02:50 -0400, Pat
wrote: On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 20:04:08 +0100, N_Cook wrote: On 17/04/2019 19:15, three_jeeps wrote: On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote: I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J Sustained unusual humidity or temperature ? I had that same issue with a Grundig G6 portable AM/FM/SW radio. After a number of years (maybe 7 or 8), the non-slip material on the outside of the case turned gooey/sticky. Like the OP, I tried all sort of things (alcohol,etc) without luck. I found a post somewhere where someone recommended a solvent to fix it and ordered some. It still wasn't easy to get the goo off, but I did eventually remove it. The radio still worked great. I wish I could remember the stuff I used. I will try to find it and add to this thread if I succeed. By the way, there was no unusual temperature or humidity involved. The radio was in a desk drawer in an air conditioned house for 99.9 % of the time. Pat As promised, I looked into what I used. It was oven cleaner. Here is a link to the blog where the problem was described and solved: https://swling.com/blog/2016/03/how-...is-grundig-g6/ Pat |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
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How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On 17/04/2019 22:11, Pat wrote:
On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 17:02:50 -0400, Pat wrote: On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 20:04:08 +0100, N_Cook wrote: On 17/04/2019 19:15, three_jeeps wrote: On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote: I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J Sustained unusual humidity or temperature ? I had that same issue with a Grundig G6 portable AM/FM/SW radio. After a number of years (maybe 7 or 8), the non-slip material on the outside of the case turned gooey/sticky. Like the OP, I tried all sort of things (alcohol,etc) without luck. I found a post somewhere where someone recommended a solvent to fix it and ordered some. It still wasn't easy to get the goo off, but I did eventually remove it. The radio still worked great. I wish I could remember the stuff I used. I will try to find it and add to this thread if I succeed. By the way, there was no unusual temperature or humidity involved. The radio was in a desk drawer in an air conditioned house for 99.9 % of the time. Pat As promised, I looked into what I used. It was oven cleaner. Here is a link to the blog where the problem was described and solved: https://swling.com/blog/2016/03/how-...is-grundig-g6/ Pat Oven cleaner will etch into some plastics , so check on the rear first. Its great for removing tobacco stain and with caution , its etching will remove sun-browning of white platic cases. Assuming this rubber coating is for anti-slip reasons, is there any mobile phone/tablet model with this treatment? |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 5:11:09 PM UTC-4, Pat wrote:
On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 17:02:50 -0400, Pat wrote: On Wed, 17 Apr 2019 20:04:08 +0100, N_Cook wrote: On 17/04/2019 19:15, three_jeeps wrote: On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:56:07 PM UTC-4, three_jeeps wrote: I am an EE, not a chemist so I am looking for a solution to this issue. I have a few electronic devices such as Foscam PTZ network camera and a Targus slide clicker, both of which have this issue. The black case of these devices seems to have suffered a breakdown of the surface of the enclosure that results in a very sticky feel along with the disappearance of some of the lettering on the buttons, case, etc. They haven't been exposed to a lot of sunlight, temp extremes, chemicals of any sort, etc. The sticky substance seems to be only on the exposed outside surfaces. I have tried to remove/stabilize the stickyness with: alcohol (isopropal, ethel, methel), acetone, MEK, mineral spirits, carbon-tet, even tried the dreaded (in my book) WD40. Nothing helped. I know that some of these chemicals might soften certain types of plastics, but I figured what the hell..... Nothing has fixed the problem, and I hate to toss this stuff. Actually I am more interested in what the problem is and a cure for it - if any. Thanks John To elaborate a bit further and answer some questions posed by others below.... 1. The Targus 'clicker' seemed to have a rubberized feel to it (to increase grippiness) but it feels like a extremely thin layer of a coating The Foscam PTZ enclosure has a matte texture/feel to it but I can't determine if it has a coating or not 2. Smell? well my smell sense is not that great, yes, maybe a very slight 'sweet' 3. Same condition as rubber component breakdown? no. it is not hardened (as in rubber capstan rollers, etc. It is more sticky and a slightly gooey, but nothing comes off or stretches when it is handled. 4. I have a bottle of 'rubber restorer' that I use on tape decks, old phonographs, etc. I'll try that but I see it as a softener and if the gear I have is already 'soft' I didnt see this a very helpful. Brake fluid. I'll try that. Thanks It is annoying to think that this stuff is 5 yo or less and it has decayed like this. This seems like a situation that should be understood & resolved. J Sustained unusual humidity or temperature ? I had that same issue with a Grundig G6 portable AM/FM/SW radio. After a number of years (maybe 7 or 8), the non-slip material on the outside of the case turned gooey/sticky. Like the OP, I tried all sort of things (alcohol,etc) without luck. I found a post somewhere where someone recommended a solvent to fix it and ordered some. It still wasn't easy to get the goo off, but I did eventually remove it. The radio still worked great. I wish I could remember the stuff I used. I will try to find it and add to this thread if I succeed. By the way, there was no unusual temperature or humidity involved. The radio was in a desk drawer in an air conditioned house for 99.9 % of the time. Pat As promised, I looked into what I used. It was oven cleaner. Here is a link to the blog where the problem was described and solved: https://swling.com/blog/2016/03/how-...is-grundig-g6/ Pat This link was very helpful. I wish they would have noted the oven cleaner product (Easy-Off?). I will try the oven cleaner, goo-gone, and the kitchen goo gone. Oven cleaner has some nasty vapors... BTW, the devices I have stayed indoors, so no humidity issues (unless the occasional 90% humidity days we experience in the summer to be of concern) Thanks again |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
I have had the same problem with a FoodSaver device. All the exterior black plastic surfaces except the bottom developed this sticky GOOK. I tried alcohol then CitraSolv (which may be concentrated GooGOne) ... didn't help at first but a few hours later hubby got it clean, with alcohol paper towels and lots of elbow grease. Methinks there must have been residual CitraSolv doing something in the meantime - the wipe job had been less than thorough.
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How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On Thursday, 18 April 2019 16:31:26 UTC+1, three_jeeps wrote:
On Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 5:11:09 PM UTC-4, Pat wrote: As promised, I looked into what I used. It was oven cleaner. Here is a link to the blog where the problem was described and solved: https://swling.com/blog/2016/03/how-...is-grundig-g6/ Pat This link was very helpful. I wish they would have noted the oven cleaner product normally caustic soda NT |
How to fix the goo that occurs on some electronic enclosures?
On 19/04/2019 08:15, Charlie+ wrote:
On Thu, 18 Apr 2019 10:45:59 +0100, N_Cook wrote as underneath : Oven cleaner will etch into some plastics , so check on the rear first. Its great for removing tobacco stain and with caution , its etching will remove sun-browning of white platic cases. Assuming this rubber coating is for anti-slip reasons, is there any mobile phone/tablet model with this treatment? Yes, I have an STK mobile phone with this very thin spray coated type antislip on the back panel. No idea if it will gooize in time, probably! Even Sony used it on handy cams etc years ago. Awful mess to clean up and very difficult; I remember it was 'relatively' easy to get the coating that had already gone gooey, off - but the coating hadnt all turned yet and the ungooy stuff in patches was almost impossible to remove without aggressive type thinners (toluene, MEK etc). C+ I've just realised the blue rubbery part-covering of an Oral-B electric toothbrush is going tacky and failing in a similar manner. |
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