Re: Gravure & Sulphur Polution

Bas van Velzen (eland@knoware.nl)
Sat, 17 Aug 1996 14:58:33 +0100

>Some of the plates were left to dry over lunch on a shelf in the fume cabinet
>used for etching. It contained no etchants. Someone turned the 'in' fan on in
>order to hasten the drying of the plates. Those plates closest to the inlet
>turned a beautiful blue, a copper sulphate blue.
>
>Those plates aquatinted and etched well but I am wondering to what extent our
>lungs are being etched.

if I remember correctly this blue staining of the copper can be
caused by ammonia in the air. Was the workshop near the countryside? Dung
is a fine producer of ammonia (resulting in acid rain).

Bas

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