Question about DECtape formulation

On 1/24/22 11:09 AM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote: Not likely, as it's on all of my? tapes, including the four 'unopened' (well, there opened now...) tapes I had in my stash. Brand spanking 'new' in blue plastic boxes, still with seal on tape.? I even had an unused 'scotch' brand that had the seal on the tape, though? that one came in a paper box, so conceivably it could have been 'contaminated'.? But it still looks the same. Also, in reference to another comment: the 'oxide' isn't coming off exactly.? I did have one tape with some really ragged ends on it, and on that one, the oxide did flake a bit.? But that tape had other damage on the leader end.? For the rest of them (tried so far) all I can say is the oxide appeared 'exposed' but on several different tapes I tried 'scraping' this exposed layer with an exacto knife and all that happened is some scratches appeared on the 'overcoat' layer.? No oxide residue on the knife. Sorry if it appears I implied the oxide was degrading.? May on one or two, but this is not a feature of the other 100-ish tapes. I'm guessing it *is* some kind of spray-on 'extra' lubricating coating, so I'm just trying to figure out what it is.? Obviously it's extremely soluble in iso, but that's the 'strongest' thing I've tried.? As I think I mentioned, even water will degrade this layer with some rubbing, but alcohol takes it off quickly.? 'Dry polishing' the tape doesn't seem to degrade the coating, though I do seem some 'smudges' left on the kimwipe. This issue isn't standing in my way of completing the project - I was just checking the 'collective conscience' here if any knew some unpublished secrets or where they were published if not secret. Thanks for all the replies. -Gary