Dave:
In one of the posts, Joe indicated that he had tested DVD's in "room
temperature" water. In general, I'm assuming that means somewhere in the 68
to 72 degree range. I was in New Orleans a week before the hurricane and
temperatures were nearing 100 degrees during part of the day. With no air
conditioning, after the hurricane, actual exposure temperatures could easily
reach into the 90's or higher.
As for contamination: salt, sewage and chlorine are known to accelerate
decay in magnetic tape. I haven't read any research, however, on which
particular chemicals are most likely to damage the glue layer on DVD's and
penetrate the discs. Interestingly enough, MP and ME tape recovered from
the flood waters that show obvious contamination from oil, are showing less
immediate chemical decay than those exposed only to salt or sewage
contaminated water.
Peter Brothers
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dave Bradley
> Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 9:36 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] water damaged cds
>
>
> >While I have not examined any of these discs, it appears that submersion
> >in contaminated water at elevated temperatures can damage some DVD's.
>
> I'm curious about what you mean by "elevated temperatures" ?
>
> Meanwhile, remember that the contamination in the water is
> sewage, as well
> as chemicals for treating it that were washed out of the treatment plants
> with the sewage, as well as petroleum based chemicals (which will do a
> number on the plastics on an optical disc). That's GOT to be
> rough on the
> DVDs.
>
>
>
> -----------------
> Diamond Productions
> Specializing in analog tape & film preservation / restoration in the
> digital domain.
> Dave Bradley President
>
>
