Radars
Hi Gwen:
 
Yes we have this problem, not necessarily on radar equipment though. Nor do we have good climate control. Nor do we have resources for a conservator.
 
Unfortuntaely the key is climate control. No matter what treatment you use to remove or mitigate the corrosion, if it goes back into the same environment the corrosion will likely reappear.
 
My strategy has been very conservative. First I try to relocate such artifacts to storage areas which have the best possible climate and control thereof. Second, if the corrosion looks well adhered, uniform, and apparently stable (ie. its not flaking off, its fairly smooth, its not strange colors or globular) I leave it alone. I feel pretty strongly that partial or stop gap treatments will actually make the problem worse in the long-run.
 
I'm sure more knowledgable folks can offer better advice, but I hope this helps.
 

________________________
Mark D. Hanson
Curator
Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum
1011 Pacesetter Drive
Rantoul, Illinois   61866-3672
217-893-1613  *  217-892-5774 (fax)
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From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nelmes, Gwen (Contr)
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Radars


I work at an electronics museum that focuses on military defense electronic. We have a wide collection of military radars, some of these are currently corroding. These include our SCR 268, AN/DPN-34 and DPN 53 antennas. They seem to have a green, zinc-cromate covering over the magnesium-aluminium alloy (?). The corrosion looks like a white hard powder attached to the outer layer of the objects zinc-cromate paint. We aren't sure how to care for it or to prevent it. We do not have the budget for a conservator and I was wondering if anyone had any in-house treatments.  We do realize that temperature and relative humidity is a problem that we are currently unable to gain control.   Has anyone encountered any similar problems in your collection? Thank you very much for any help that you can provide.

Gwen Nelmes
Assistant Director
Historical Electronics Museum
1745 West Nursery Road
Linthicum, MD 21090
(410) 765-9617

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