April 18 2010
I’m trying to find a product to seal vintage hard plastic from any moisture penetrating through to the plastic. The plastic is having a chemical reaction to moisture and breaking down. Once I remove all the moisture and stop the chemical reaction I need something to permanently seal it so no more moisture can react with the plastic and start the reaction again. Basically I need to encase the entire thing with a moisture barrier.
This is a plastic doll (in parts) and needs to be sealed inside and out. The product color on the inside is unimportant, but the outside needs a clear semi-gloss or satin finish which won’t hide the detailed painting.
Please don’t get hung-up on “craft’ ideas (unless you know something that works!). Because this is a doll I’m having trouble finding anyone to take it seriously. I restore vintage dolls that are quite valuable (some $1,000+) and I am trying to preserve them. I suspect what I am looking for might be found in some other category like automotive or commercial uses.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I’ve already been told to store them in a controlled humidity environment—this is not an acceptable alternative, though I’m sure it would work. I’d like to be able to tell my customers they can display their dolls on an open shelf!
Looking for some creative uncommon solutions!
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for your help and question about the kind of plastic. It’s not urethane and not sweating or visibly leaching, just gives off a butyric acid stench. I have researched the plastic and it is a chemical reaction. The chemical (in this case butyrate) is simply reacting with water causing it to release butyric acid. Once the activator, in this case water, is removed it slows or stops the process. I have the moisture removed through a process of drying and using a dessicant (silica gel) but now want to seal it so no more water can penetrate to re-start the process.
Hope that clarifies!