Yellowing plastic on SNES, NES, etc.

[VideoFever1982]

All of my systems are clean and in their original color. A big concern is keeping them that way. I've seen alot of yellowed systems and heard many complaints. There also seems to be more than one cause. Theory has it that certain light sources cause it? What lights would cause that? Fluorescent?

[+Psionic]

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=138244

[VideoFever1982]

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=138244

Ah..... I love the indirect non-personal answer.

[VideoFever1982]

plus i'm not interested in how to remove discoloration on an Atari computer. I don't see anywhere where is explains the cause. Mine are fine and don't need reconditioning. Is it light, air, the certain plastics their self?

[+Psionic]

plus i'm not interested in how to remove discoloration on an Atari computer. I don't see anywhere where is explains the cause. Mine are fine and don't need reconditioning. Is it light, air, the certain plastics their self?

http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189

[VideoFever1982]

Too much hit and miss. No real definite answer. Everyone speculates and it seems to be a bit of a controversy:

 

I had long heard that plastic discoloration had something to do with UV exposure, which made more sense for the Macs, but not so for the SNES. In the case of the SNES itself, the chassis was uniformly discolored on both the outside and the inside of the case, which means that it could not have been the work of light. With all this in mind, I set out to find what was causing these plastic yellowing effects, and if the yellowing on the SNES and the Macintosh cases were related.

 

After poking around the net, I found some forum threads where people seemed to have vague ideas about what was causing the yellowing. Suggestions and accusations from forum regulars like “Wash your hands!” or “It’s tobacco stains,” were usually returned with, “But I’m a clean guy!” and “I don’t smoke,” so the problem isn’t quite that simple. Other people weighing in on the issue seemed more knowledgeable and suggested that keeping computers away from windows and fluorescent lighting will help prevent discoloration. Sounds good to me, but why, exactly, would sunlight cause certain plastic to yellow while other plastics retained their original color?

 

 

Must be the plastics. Some do it and some don't.

[+Psionic]

Too much hit and miss. No real definite answer.

 

You might get a definitive answer (or as close to 'definitive' as is possible) if you actually take the time to read the entire thread I referred you to (and check out some of the links therein) in my inital post...instead of just skimming the first page or so and saying "no, that's not what I want".

 

The primary (but not sole) cause is UV light reacting with bromine-based flame retardants in certain plastics.

Edited March 20, 2009 by PingvinBlueJeans

[VideoFever1982]

Too much hit and miss. No real definite answer.

 

You might get a definitive answer (or as close to 'definitive' as is possible) if you actually take the time to read the entire thread I referred you to (and check out some of the links therein) in my inital post...instead of just skimming the first page or so and saying "no, that's not what I want".

 

The primary (but not sole) cause is UV light reacting with bromine-based flame retardants in certain plastics.

Not so much a big deal that i'd want to sit and read all the nonsense. Just wanted a simple answer. How hard is that?? Light, neglect, aliens from outerspace. One simple answer. Geez

[VideoFever1982]

Too much hit and miss. No real definite answer.

 

You might get a definitive answer (or as close to 'definitive' as is possible) if you actually take the time to read the entire thread I referred you to (and check out some of the links therein) in my inital post...instead of just skimming the first page or so and saying "no, that's not what I want".

 

The primary (but not sole) cause is UV light reacting with bromine-based flame retardants in certain plastics.

Not so much a big deal that i'd want to sit and read all the nonsense. Just wanted a simple answer. How hard is that?? Light, neglect, aliens from outerspace. One simple answer. Geez

Come on people, When i ask for personal input or a simple answer. Don't get lazy and copy & paste an entire web page so i can sit and READ. I don't want to sit for 15 minutes trying to find out something like this.

[Warriorisabouttodie]

You might of got lucky, some systems were made with a better plastic that never degrades. If you keep them away from UV light, cigarette smoke etc.. they may always stay the way they are. There is a chance, however, especially with the SNES that one day you will notice it starting to yellow, due to the fire retardant plastics used. If this happens there is a way using the retrobrite formula to restore the plastic to it's original color. I hope this sums it up. Unfortunately there is no real answer to "will my console eventually turn yellow," but if they've lasted this long keep doing what you are doing!

[STICH666]

Oxidizing. That's it. There's nothing to reverse it.

[VideoFever1982]

You might of got lucky, some systems were made with a better plastic that never degrades. If you keep them away from UV light, cigarette smoke etc.. they may always stay the way they are. There is a chance, however, especially with the SNES that one day you will notice it starting to yellow, due to the fire retardant plastics used. If this happens there is a way using the retrobrite formula to restore the plastic to it's original color. I hope this sums it up. Unfortunately there is no real answer to "will my console eventually turn yellow," but if they've lasted this long keep doing what you are doing!

Yeah, i think your right. I have 4 of them and they all look like they should. As long as i don't set them in the window or something. I was just curious as to what caused some of them to go bad. I figured maybe some form of light.

[JamesD]

There has been speculation that fluorescent light can also cause this. I suppose they can give off some level of UV light.

The "Retr0bright" method has been tried on the SNES and it did work if the pictures weren't faked.

It is not a cleaner but a chemical reaction with the plastic ingredient that turns yellow.

 

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

[2600Lives]

Amazing isn't it? You ask a simple question, and all you get is an asshole answer. Beautiful.

 

For the SNES, I always thought the prevailing theory was the plastic yellowed from the heat generated by the system.

[godslabrat]

There is a chance, however, especially with the SNES that one day you will notice it starting to yellow, due to the fire retardant plastics used.

 

Who are these gamers, and why are they playing Nintendo in a place that requires fire retardant plastics?!? If the place is on fire, PUT DOWN THE NINTENDO AND RUN!

[Frotz]

I don't think the yellow SNES has to do with heat. One day I put mine away into a closet and didn't touch or look at it for two years or so. Then I decided I wanted to play with it and I discovered that while it was in storage, the bottom half turned yellow.

[JamesD]

Since nobody wants to read any of the information on the linked websites/threads and they just want to call people assholes I'll spell it out.

 

It's been a long time since I took college chemistry and I haven't seen the chemical makeup of the plastic so this is just speculation based on what has been posted.

 

The plastic contains Bromine as a flame retardant. It's one of those things that is required by law so there is no getting around it.

When Bromine combines with something in the air it turns yellow. It may even turn yellow on it's own as it's released.

 

UV or other forms of light accelerate the chemical reaction that causes yellowing. It is likely that the more towards the blue/UV end of the spectrum the light is, the greater it accelerates the chemical reaction.

Just heating the plastic causes the plastic to release some of the Bromine. I'm guessing the Bromine doesn't have any type of strong chemical bond to the plastic and the heat breaks those bonds.

Sunlight is the worst since it heats the plastic and contains UV.

 

So, to prevent yellowing you have to keep your systems away from heat, light and air.

If you have a system that has ever been exposed to those it may still yellow but without an added energy source the process would be slower.

 

You could also use the "retr0bright" to remove any exposed/free Bromine before it yellows the plastic.

 

I know some of you are thinking plastic is hard so how can that happen?

Plastics are generally long strands of molecules bonded together and this kind of plastic is probably porous enough for the Bromine to migrate to the surface or some molecules in the air can migrate into the plastic over time.

[VideoFever1982]

Amazing isn't it? You ask a simple question, and all you get is an asshole answer. Beautiful.

 

For the SNES, I always thought the prevailing theory was the plastic yellowed from the heat generated by the system.

I wondered about heat myself. Maybe the plastic reacts to that over time due to defects or chemicals/materials used.

[VideoFever1982]

There is a chance, however, especially with the SNES that one day you will notice it starting to yellow, due to the fire retardant plastics used.

 

Who are these gamers, and why are they playing Nintendo in a place that requires fire retardant plastics?!? If the place is on fire, PUT DOWN THE NINTENDO AND RUN!

[VideoFever1982]

I don't think the yellow SNES has to do with heat. One day I put mine away into a closet and didn't touch or look at it for two years or so. Then I decided I wanted to play with it and I discovered that while it was in storage, the bottom half turned yellow.

That's strange. Especially in a dark closet. No heat and definitley no uv light. After all speculation, may just be the plastic turns on its own.

[VideoFever1982]

Since nobody wants to read any of the information on the linked websites/threads and they just want to call people assholes I'll spell it out.

 

It's been a long time since I took college chemistry and I haven't seen the chemical makeup of the plastic so this is just speculation based on what has been posted.

 

The plastic contains Bromine as a flame retardant. It's one of those things that is required by law so there is no getting around it.

When Bromine combines with something in the air it turns yellow. It may even turn yellow on it's own as it's released.

 

UV or other forms of light accelerate the chemical reaction that causes yellowing. It is likely that the more towards the blue/UV end of the spectrum the light is, the greater it accelerates the chemical reaction.

Just heating the plastic causes the plastic to release some of the Bromine. I'm guessing the Bromine doesn't have any type of strong chemical bond to the plastic and the heat breaks those bonds.

Sunlight is the worst since it heats the plastic and contains UV.

 

So, to prevent yellowing you have to keep your systems away from heat, light and air.

If you have a system that has ever been exposed to those it may still yellow but without an added energy source the process would be slower.

 

You could also use the "retr0bright" to remove any exposed/free Bromine before it yellows the plastic.

 

I know some of you are thinking plastic is hard so how can that happen?

Plastics are generally long strands of molecules bonded together and this kind of plastic is probably porous enough for the Bromine to migrate to the surface or some molecules in the air can migrate into the plastic over time.

Good info. Where can i get retrobright? Wouldn't mind having some around just in case. You never know.

[JamesD]

It's actually something you make yourself.

 

It's just a combination of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer for the Bromine, Oxy detergent additive as a catalyst, and thickener to make it into a gel or paste. Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide work faster and people have obtained it from hair salon supply places but even the weak stuff you buy in a supermarket works if you give it time may produce more even results in de-yellowing a badly yellowed item.

 

The plastic itself does not get harmed in the process according to the people that have tried it but I would still use caution and try it on something less valuable first.

 

Just follow the links people have posted above for more details.

[VideoFever1982]

It's actually something you make yourself.

 

It's just a combination of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer for the Bromine, Oxy detergent additive as a catalyst, and thickener to make it into a gel or paste. Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide work faster and people have obtained it from hair salon supply places but even the weak stuff you buy in a supermarket works if you give it time may produce more even results in de-yellowing a badly yellowed item.

 

The plastic itself does not get harmed in the process according to the people that have tried it but I would still use caution and try it on something less valuable first.

 

Just follow the links people have posted above for more details.

Thanks.... I'll keep this in mind.