Chlorine test - Revision history

Corbin.uhl: /* Procedure */

2020-09-11T06:19:52Z

Procedure

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	3. Put the wire back in the flame		3. Put the wire back in the flame
	* If the flame turns emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.		* If the flame turns emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.
	* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.		* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine.
			This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.

	With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire, thick smoke, or sputtering.		With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire, thick smoke, or sputtering.

Corbin.uhl: /* Intro */

2020-09-11T06:19:32Z

Intro

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	In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs.		In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs.

	A simple test can determine if a material contains chlorine~~, though it won't guarantee that the material is safe to use~~.		A simple test can determine if a material contains chlorine.

	==Procedure==		==Procedure==

Corbin.uhl: /* Intro */

2020-09-11T06:19:12Z

Intro

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	The laser can successfully cut many materials that it shouldn't.		The laser can successfully cut many materials that it shouldn't.
	In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs		In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs.

			A simple test can determine if a material contains chlorine, though it won't guarantee that the material is safe to use.

	==Procedure==		==Procedure==

Corbin.uhl: /* Procedure */

2020-09-11T06:18:15Z

Procedure

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	==Procedure==		==Procedure==

	Do this outdoors or under the welding hood ~~please~~.		Do this outdoors or under the welding hood when possible.

	You will need:		You will need:

Corbin.uhl: /* Procedure */

2020-09-11T06:18:04Z

Procedure

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	* A small sample of your material		* A small sample of your material

	Use a pair of pliers to hold the end of the wire in the flame for a few seconds		1. Use a pair of pliers to hold the end of the wire in the flame for a few seconds

	Stab the still-hot wire into a sample of your test material - try to get a decent amount of it melted on there		2. Stab the still-hot wire into a sample of your test material - try to get a decent amount of it melted on there

	~~Put the wire back in the flame~~

			3. Put the wire back in the flame
	* If the flame turns emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.		* If the flame turns emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.
	* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.		* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.

Corbin.uhl: /* Procedure */

2020-09-11T06:17:36Z

Procedure

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	* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.		* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.

	With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire or thick, ~~dark smoke~~.		With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire, thick smoke, or sputtering.

	==Known Materials==		==Known Materials==

Corbin.uhl at 06:17, 11 September 2020

2020-09-11T06:17:02Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Laser Cutter|Back to Laser Cutter]]
-==In Brief==
+==Intro==
 The laser can successfully cut many materials that it shouldn't.
 In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs
 ==Procedure==
@@ Line 44: / Line 27: @@
 With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire or thick, dark smoke.

Corbin.uhl: /* In Brief */

2020-09-11T06:16:42Z

In Brief

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	==In Brief==		==In Brief==

	The laser can successfully cut many materials that ~~are damaging to the laser when cut. Do not think that just because the laser can cut~~ it~~, it is acceptable to do so~~.		The laser can successfully cut many materials that it shouldn't.
			In particular, materials containing chlorine (like PVC) release vapor that will corrode the laser's parts and also your lungs
	In particular ~~'''chlorinated''' materials create fumes which destroy laser components~~, ~~primarily the optics. These are very expensive to replace. '''All unknown or unproven~~ materials ~~must have a sample tested for~~ chlorine ~~prior to cutting them in~~ the laser'~~''.~~

	Burn copper wire with a torch until green flame stops. Continue heating copper wire red hot. Jab still-hot copper wire into sample piece away from flame (below flame works best). If green smoke or flame ensues, there is chlorine in the piece and ~~it cannot be used inside the laser cutter.~~

	==Known Materials==		==Known Materials==

Corbin.uhl at 06:14, 11 September 2020

2020-09-11T06:14:15Z

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	* Fibreglass cloth (no resin)		* Fibreglass cloth (no resin)
	* Glass (etching only)		* Glass (etching only)


	Unacceptable:		Unacceptable:
	* PVC plastic. PVC = "'''P'''oly'''V'''inyl '''C'''hloride". The "chloride" means it has chlorine.		* PVC plastic. PVC = "'''P'''oly'''V'''inyl '''C'''hloride". The "chloride" means it has chlorine.
	* Sintra		* Sintra
	*		* Composites (fibreglass, carbon fibre)
	* (Incomplete List)		* (Incomplete List)

	~~==Introduction==~~

	~~The Beilstein Test: Screening Organic and Polymeric Materials for the Presence of Chlorine, with Examples of Products Tested~~

	~~http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/notes/17-1-eng.aspx~~

	~~http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/notes/17-1_e.pdf~~

	Chlorinated organic materials are generally considered unsuitable for long-term conservation and museum applications due to their potential harm to objects. These materials may degrade and produce acidic gases, or additives such as plasticizers may migrate to objects. These products can be analyzed in detail in the laboratory, but conservators may use a simple test — the Beilstein Test — to screen their own materials for the presence of chlorine without having to submit samples for laboratory analysis.

	The test is based on the reaction of chlorine with copper compounds at the high temperatures found in burner flames. These conditions produce excited, green-coloured copper atoms or ions that cause the normally colourless (or very slightly blue) flame to flare brilliant green (or sometimes blue-green).

	==Procedure==		==Procedure==
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	With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire or thick, dark smoke.		With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire or thick, dark smoke.

	==~~Discussion~~==

			==Trivia==

			The Beilstein Test: Screening Organic and Polymeric Materials for the Presence of Chlorine, with Examples of Products Tested

			http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/notes/17-1-eng.aspx

			http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/notes/17-1_e.pdf

			Chlorinated organic materials are generally considered unsuitable for long-term conservation and museum applications due to their potential harm to objects. These materials may degrade and produce acidic gases, or additives such as plasticizers may migrate to objects. These products can be analyzed in detail in the laboratory, but conservators may use a simple test — the Beilstein Test — to screen their own materials for the presence of chlorine without having to submit samples for laboratory analysis.

			The test is based on the reaction of chlorine with copper compounds at the high temperatures found in burner flames. These conditions produce excited, green-coloured copper atoms or ions that cause the normally colourless (or very slightly blue) flame to flare brilliant green (or sometimes blue-green).

	The Beilstein Test has been used for many decades to analyze organic and polymeric materials (Shriner et a1. 1964; Vogel 1966). A very similar test is now used by refrigeration technicians to detect and localize leaks of freon-type refrigerants (i.e., chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons). This test has also been recommended for detecting PVC coin storage products (Sharpless 1980).		The Beilstein Test has been used for many decades to analyze organic and polymeric materials (Shriner et a1. 1964; Vogel 1966). A very similar test is now used by refrigeration technicians to detect and localize leaks of freon-type refrigerants (i.e., chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons). This test has also been recommended for detecting PVC coin storage products (Sharpless 1980).

Corbin.uhl: /* Procedure */

2020-09-11T06:11:53Z

Procedure

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:11, 11 September 2020
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	==Procedure==		==Procedure==

			Do this outdoors or under the welding hood please.

	You will need:		You will need:
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	Put the wire back in the flame		Put the wire back in the flame

	If the flame emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.		* If the flame turns emerald green, chlorine is present in the material and it must not be used in the laser cutter.
			* If the flame remains blue or orange your sample does not have (much) chlorine. This does NOT automatically mean that it is safe in the laser.

	~~If the flame remains blue~~ or ~~orange your sample does not have~~		With any new material, proceed with caution and watch carefully for fire or thick, dark smoke.

	==Discussion==		==Discussion==