You could try two mild solvents, but all the associated rubbing will
probably scratch the acrylic sheet.  

Many solvents will cause crazing of acrylic sheet (independent of
scratching), especially alcohols and acetone (common solvents one
might try).  VM&P Naphtha and Paint Thinner (Home Depot brand, because
I know it is Stoddard's Solvent) are worth trying in a test, using
cotton swabs.  Neither is an especially good solvent for the wide
variety of adhesives used with tape, but they work "a little bit."
Because they will not work well, you will need to rub to release the
adhesive; this will probably cause scratching of the acrylic sheet.
Start with a small test in an out-of-sight area; allow the solvent to
dry before accessing feasibility.  The process has a low probability
of success and will probably cause scratching; it will be quite time
consuming.  

We often see acrylic sheet with an unscratched band surrounded by two
bands of scratching, defining the width of the tape.  This is a clear
indication that "solvent & rubbing" was used to remove the tape
adhesive.  The scratches from rubbing will only become obvious after
the solvent has dried.

The problem is that tape adhesive that has separated from the tape
carrier is probably old and degraded, possibly even crosslinked.
Degraded adhesive is even more difficult to remove from any substrate.
Fresh tape will generally separate from acrylic sheet.  If the residue
is from fresh tape, try using more of the tape to pull up the small
remaining bits.  This technique has the highest probability of working
without causing further damage.

The other technique you might try is a crape rubber eraser (rubber
cement eraser).  Depending on the type of adhesive it could work.
Here again, you will experience the problem of rubbing causing
scratches.

Soap and water will not work.  

Solvents that will work, such as methyl ethyl ketone and acetone, will
definitely cause surface crazing of acrylic sheet.  These solvents can
be used on glass, but not acrylic sheet.

This is a tough problem.

Best of luck.

> Does anyone have any suggestions on removing tape residue (not sure
what kind of tape it was) 
> from the surface of a plexi glass frame? 
> Thank you,
> Miriam


Tim Vitale
Paper, Photographs &
Electronic Media Conservator Digital Imaging & Facsimiles
Film [Still] Migration to Digital Format
Digital Imaging & Facsimiles
Preservation Associates 
1500 Park Avenue 
Suite 132
Emeryville, CA 94608

510-594-8277
510-594-8799 fax 

[log in to unmask]
Vitale bio
http://videopreservation.conservation-us.org/tjv/vitale_1pg_bio.pdf
Resume: see link in lower right corner of the URL above. 
Albumen Photography Website in 2000
<http://albumen.conservation-us.org>
VideoPreservation Website in 2007
<http://videopreservation.conservation-us.org>

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