[alt-photo] Re: On working with hydrochloric acid

[Paul Viapiano]

What about storing outside of the home in a garage? Automobiles, etc all live there...what about huge temp variations esp in summer? Will triple sealed bagging be ok?

These are the issues that scare me off about ether and wet plate work as well...or is it overly alarmist?

P

On Feb 16, 2013, at 7:14 AM, Harlan Chapman n <hchapman at coastside.net> wrote:

> A gentle warning on a sneaky little hazard in using hydrochloric acid
> (muriatic acid):
> 
> The acidic component is a gas, hydrogen chloride (HCl). Even dilute
> hydrochloric acid will liberate the gas into your working environment.
> Within reason this doesn't present a serious toxicity hazard and with good
> ventilation you will be fine - hydrochloric acid is surprisingly friendly
> to work with considering it's strength. But nearly any metal (aluminum,
> iron, copper, even most stainless steel alloys commonly used) in your
> entire workspace, even across the room, will begin to corrode. The
> corrosion will be slow, insidious and damaging. Once noticed you'll find it
> everywhere. So don't work with HCl in a darkroom space that may include
> valued metal objects like clocks, cameras, dry mount presses, cutters…
> Don't use it in a stainless steel sink unless you know it is an
> HCl-resistant alloy. And don't store concentrated (even dilute)
> hydrochloric acid solutions inside unless double or triple packaged as even
> the best sealed bottle will likely leak fumes slowly into your storage
> space and destroy it.
> 
> Mix hydrochloric acid, use it, store it, and dry paper treated with it
> freely outside.
> 
> The volatile corrosiveness of HCl largely is not shared with most other
> acids commonly used in photographic/printing processes.  Oxalic, acetic,
> citric, dilute sulfuric, and dilute nitric, are OK, they won't liberate
> undetectable vapors that slowly chew on metals throughout your workspace.
> 
> Happy printing,
> 
> -Harlan
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