>Please, what's the matter with starch? (Or as I recall the formula was
>for dextrine.) Why the "alternative"?
There is nothing at all wrong with starch as far as I know. Why the
alternative? Its the way my mind works I'm afraid. I am just as
interested in the chemical and physical properties of alt-processes as I
am in the final image. Hence the interest in alternatives to the
original materials.
I must also confess to looking for various synthetic water soluble
alternatives to gum arabic, albumen, and gelatine. Has anyone any
experience of any such alternatives?
>
>Also, many years ago I bought a Johns-Manville (pre-bankruptcy) product
>called "Celite," a Diatomite Functional Filler, which came in various
>grades & was very inexpensive, for use as a flatting agent. The label
>notes that among other functions it is "a delicate abrasive", etc. etc. It
>worked fine. I didn't get silicosis (yet).
>
Ah Celite! I remember it well, we used it as flatting agent in un
dercoat paints.
>But as I say, why not dextrine?
>
>Judy
I think that Dextrin is actually starch which has been partially broken
down (hydrolised) by treatment with dilute acids, to produce a gum like
substance easily soluble in water, and thus it would not behave in same
manner as starch.
Alex
Alex Nanson
Gloucester UK