leaky batteries! - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

1 Dec 2003

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