Re: Alcohol type of Pigment-sensitiser
Sandy King (sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Tue, 17 Sep 1996 21:24:34 -0400
>> What is the reason of isopropyl alcohol (compare with others)?
>
>
>Hi Balint,
>
>I think it was just because the isopropyl is cheap and easy to get at the
>corner drugstore (not quite what that sounds like, of course, maybe you
>say "apothecary"?), even the supermarket, and seems to do the job OK. A
>pint of rubbing alcohol is about 69 cents... and you could use it for
>after-shave, too.
>
>The idea, as I understood it, is simply to speed up drying -- but maybe
>Sandy has another idea ..... For instance, why acetone?
>
>Judy
I prefer acetone for two reasons. First, tissue sensitized with a spirit
sensitizer containing acetone will dry somewht faster than one with
alcohol, and second, alcohol will reduce potassium dichromate (but not
ammonium), which will result in some slight fog of the image.
But again, it is very risky to use these spirit sensitizers when the room
temperature is over about 65 degrees F because the gelatine will melt.
Sandy