Thanks Margaret and David... No MSDS from Mr. Maas yet. He did say that
their liquid version is less harsh that the crème.

However you look at it, it is not looking like a viable product to use in a
museum... 

Ware
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House 
Curator of Collections
725 N. Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
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409.832.1906 p 409.832.3483 f
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of David Harvey
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 2:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Maas Polish

Thank you Margaret,

Since this MSDS is from 1994 and for the Maas "creme" polish (Ware was
looking into a new liquid polish product from the same manufacturer) I
will wait to see the MSDS for the product that Ware speciifcally was
interested in.

In general any product that contains amonia or that can decomose into
amonia should never be used with historic or artistic metals - Brasso
is one of the "bad" polishes because of this. Amonia is a powerful
cleaner and degreaser but it causes a corrosion phenomenon in cooper
alloys, brasses, and any metal that contains copper (silver does)
called stress corrosion cracking. The amonia causes and intergranular
embrittlement of copper alloys and itn is very recognizable by a
network of cracks and also even associated with localized dealloying
(such as dezinctification). It is a big problem in historic
horological collections, musical instruments, and scientific
instruments.

The ingredient, "triethonalamine" in that MSDS for the Maas creme
polish can degade into amonia.

Here is an excerpt from the Dow Chemical page of TEA:

Physical Hazard Information30,31
TEA is a mildly alkaline material in the ethanolamine family. It can
react exothermically (to produce heat) with many other chemicals.

Incompatible materials include: strong oxidizing agents, strong acids,
strong bases, aldehydes, ketones, acrylates, organic anhydrides,
organic halides, formates, lactones and oxalates.

Dow recommends dedicated processing equipment for all ethanolamine
operations because ethanolamines react with many other chemicals.
Ethanolamine storage tanks should be segregated from incompatible
materials in separate dike enclosures.

Galvanized steel, copper and copper-bearing alloys are unacceptable
for any ethanolamine contact because they will react with the product.
Special care should be taken when selecting such items as pumps and
valves to assure that no copper alloys (e.g. brass and bronze) are
used in bearings or other internal components that may come into
contact with the product.

Even though TEA has not been shown to form nitrosamines, contact
between ethanolamines and nitrosating agents (e.g., sodium nitrite)
should be avoided. This is because contact between some amines and
nitrosating agents may form nitrosamines, which are suspected
cancer-causing chemicals.

TEA can react slowly with atmospheric oxygen at ambient temperatures,
which may result in discoloration of the TEA. It can also absorb water
from the atmosphere.

So if a polish has amonia or TEA avoid it like the plague!

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, CA

On 10/12/07, Margaret M <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> A 1994 MSDS data sheet can be found in the Purdue archives:
>
> http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/index.cfm?letter=M
>
> specifically,
>
> http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/4402.pdf
>
> From the Sheet:
>
> Hazardous Ingredients
> Calcinated Alumina
> Hydrocarbon Mixture
> Triethanolamine
>
> I've used it (not on museum pieces) and it smells strongly of ammonia
> and petrochemicals. I recall it worked well, which suggests that it
> may be too strong for delicate pieces. I'd never use it on silver,
> that's for sure.
>
> --
> Margaret
> [log in to unmask]
>
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