Storing laptop & Re: VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) paper

[Chuck]

I contacted someone from the powerbook list who sent the following info. It appears
I'm on the right track for successful storing of old laptops.
I have to say that I'm very appreciative of all the help and positive thoughts
coming from contributors to my question. It's amazing how we make each other think,
produce a response, and then improve upon it with help from another. Thanks to
everyone who's been helping.
Chuck

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) paper
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 09:52:47 -0400
From: Roger Volk <volk at code7136.nrl.navy.mil>
Organization: SFA Inc.
To: Chuck <Seahurst at worldnet.att.net>
References: <3F31A5BA.E1AD8FD9 at worldnet.att.net>

Chuck,

    I don't follow this list, but I agree with Dan if you want a vapor
proof
bag, you need a metalized bag, polypropolyne and most other flexable
plastics, absorb water and outgas both into the air and the bag.
Vacuum
sealing with the right bag, desiccant and a VCI inhibitor would do the
trick.  A company I have delt with is CORTEC Corp., 4119 White Bear
Parkway,
St. Paul, MN 55110, Phone 612-429-1100.  As an aside, if the desiccant
bag
is sized properly, and the item double bagged leakage is not a
significant
issue over 10 years or so, most spare parts used in the submarine
service
are packaged this way, with a indicator card so the item can be
repackaged
when necessary.

Roger

Chuck wrote:

> Hi Roger,
> The info below is from the duo repair list. I'm not sure if you
follow
> it or not but I thought of you and your navy.mil email address when
> discussing a special kind of protective paper. I'm wondering if your
> involvement with the Navy might bring you in contact (not literally
of course - ha) with the paper. Please take a moment to read the info
> below and let me know what, if any, thoughts you might have on
locating the paper.
> Thanks for your time.
> Chuck LaFray
> Seattle
>
> Subject: [Duo2400] Re: [Duo/24000] Ideas Wanted For Long-term Laptop
> Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 11:31:11 -0400
> From: Dan K <macdan at comcast.net>
> Message-ID: <auto-000007883666 at mail.ninewire.com>
>
> first Chuck wrote:
> >> I'm considering placing each laptop into a
> >> vacuum sealer bag along with some moisture
> >> absorbing packets usually found with new
> >> electronics. I'm thinking that the removal
> >> of air should mean no moisture and no
> >> corrosion.
> then wayne ingalls wrote:
> >I thought I should jump in on this one since
> >it's related to how I earn a living. If you
> >want to put desiccants in the bag because
> >that's what you see other people doing, you
> >may or may not be wasting your time. I have
> >yet to see _anyone_ selling a consumer
> >product use desiccants properly in a package.
> >If you know that your product is sensitive
> >to moisture, you protect it by sealing it in
> >a moisture vapor barrier bag, either with or
> >without vacuum and with or without
> >desiccants, depending on the humidity in the
> >air at the time you pack it. If you're going
> >to plan on sealing something for many years,
> >you will need a bag that has either a foil
> >or metallized layer; clear bags will not
> >provide an adequate barrier.
> Not really a consumer product, but seems like most new harddrives
arrive
>
> in a sealed moisture-and-static-proof bag with a desiccant pouch
inside.
>
> Which I assume is what you mean by 'use properly'. BTW,
normal/regular
> static-proof bags are not rated to be 'moisture proof'.
>
> >If you think you wanted to reuse the
> >desiccant from another package, it's most likely
> >already saturated and won't be any help.
> Nutz, so does that mean I can't 'renew' my desiccant sack
collection,
> say
> by heating in a lowtemp oven for a few hours?
>
> >To  protect against corrosion you need a
> >different material, usually a special paper
> >called VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor).
> >This treated paper keeps giving off vapors
> >that provide protection against corrosion.
> Cool stuff (of which I'm aware), but have none. Where can I buy me
some?
>
> >Your best bet is to try to keep the laptops
> >in an environment where they don't see large
> >changes in temperature or humidity (think
> >"store in a cool and dark place")
> I think that points out the problem, the OP wanted to be sure the
'Books
>
> were protected even if he couldn't ensure the storage environment to
be
> perfect.
>
> I'm not remembering the specifics, but I'm sure I've seen products
> designed to hold and store objects over a long term. Moisture-proof
> sealable cans or bins or whatever, they have gas hose ports and
valves
> and such to allow the interior to first be evacuated of all
> air/moisture,
> then flooded with an appropriate gas and then sealed. I can't
imagine
> such a commercial product would be cheap, but the idea of using a
> largeish, moisture-proof (or -resistant) sealable box may appeal to
the
> OP. Big ex-mil ammo cans come to mind.
>
> Related questions for the plastics experts:
>      What causes ABS plastics to become brittle?
>      How can one protect ABS objects (eg; PowerBooks)
>           from such deterioration?
>
> And speaking of ABS deterioration: Ambroid ProWeld (solvent welder)
> rewelds broken ABS PB plastics. <http://www.ambroid.com/Ambroid.html>
I
> bought some at <http://www.towerhobbies.com> but also available at
many
> hobby stores. Can't say enough good things about it! Though capable
of
> much, much more, successfully repairing a broken PB5300 clicker's
small
> springy bit ought to be proof enough of its abilities!
>
> Dan K