1 Dec
2003
1 Dec
'03
12:11 p.m.
On Dec 1, 14:17, Marvin Johnston wrote:
I use Muriatic Acid for cleaning (alkaline) battery residue ... a
drop
at a time :). It works wonders on cleaning most of the
residue. Try a
drop and see if you get a good foam reaction. If so, then it will
most
likely do the job. In any case, it shouldn't hurt
the plastic.
I've never tried that, but it would seem logical. I wondered what the
brown stuff really is, hence my suggestion to try a mild alkali (good
for organic junk, like cardboard-in-battery-goo).
Muriatic acid, by the way, is hydrochloric acid. Used for cleaning
paving slabs, concrete, etc, amongst other things.
For quite a while, I had a small bottle of Acid Flux
that was
basically
Muriatic Acid, and it worked like a charm.
Actually, it was probably mostly zinc chloride, made by dissoving
granular zinc (or old battery cases) in hydrochloric acid. Known here
as Bakers Fluid. The raw acid would be too strong, and lose its
efficacy too quickly.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York