Vulcanite, Ebonite, Bakelite

[Michael Lever]

Could anyone advise of a non-destructive test to differentiate between
Vulcanite (the rubber compound - not the mineral!), Ebonite and
Bakelite artefacts?

Thanks,

Michael Lever

[vale...@uni.sydney.edu.au]

Hi Michael nice to see you pop up of ozarch.

Vanessa Alexander BA (Hons) University of Sydney
Archaeologist

P. (02) 97995549
M. 0402054468
W. www.vanessamcalexander.com

________________________________________
From: oza...@googlegroups.com [oza...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Michael Lever [michael...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 4:00 PM
To: OzArch
Subject: {OzArch} Vulcanite, Ebonite, Bakelite

Thanks,

Michael Lever

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[Michael Lever]

Dear all - Richard Wright directed me to a very suitable test. Simply
place items in a plastic bag for a while, then open & sniff. If
sulphuric / "rotten egg", then = Ebonite / Vulcanite. If Formaldehyde
then = Bakelite.
Hi Vanessa! Many many years!
Thanks,
Michael

On Jan 11, 4:45 pm, "vale2...@uni.sydney.edu.au"

<vale2...@uni.sydney.edu.au> wrote:
> Hi Michael nice to see you pop up of ozarch.
>
> Vanessa Alexander BA (Hons)  University of Sydney
> Archaeologist
>
> P. (02) 97995549
> M. 0402054468
> W.www.vanessamcalexander.com
>
> ________________________________________

> From: oza...@googlegroups.com [oza...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Michael Lever [michael.d.le...@gmail.com]

[Tessa Corkill]

Hi Michael

Did Richard Wright say how long is 'a while'?  I have had a bakelite serviette ring since I was a child in the 1930s, so I thought I would test the hypothesis. I have had it in a plastic bag since Thursday but it still doesn't smell like formaldehyde. So, how long is a while?

Tessa Corkill

[Michael Lever]

Hi Tessa,

It wasnt Richard's test as such - he directed me to :
http://reviews.ebay.com/Collecting-Bold-Beautiful-Bakelite-amp-Plastic-Jewelry?ugid=10000000000879389
- this includes several more aggresive test methods - I listed the
smell test as it seemed least intrusive.

Michael

On Jan 13, 9:42 am, Tessa Corkill <2archae...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Michael
>
> Did Richard Wright say how long is 'a while'?  I have had a bakelite
> serviette ring since I was a child in the 1930s, so I thought I would test
> the hypothesis. I have had it in a plastic bag since Thursday but it still
> doesn't smell like formaldehyde. So, how long is a while?
>
> Tessa Corkill
>

> >http://groups.google.com/group/ozarch?hl=en-GB.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Michael Kelly]

X-ray fluorescence ?

Sent from my iPhone