Conservation By Design Limited

Danchek Film Indicators

FOR MONITORING THE CONDITION OF ACETATE AND NITRATE FILM

Early warning sniffers that are more sensitive than your nose

Film Archives throughout the world are fighting against time in a desperate attempt to preserve their collections. In the first half of the 20th Century nitrate film became explosive and in the second half colour fading and Vinegar Syndrome are the time bombs ticking for acetate films. Acetate degrades with much less fanfare than nitrate but with equal finality.

DANCHEK INDICATORS are early warning sniffers that are more sensitive and safer than using your nose.

DANCHEK indicators are available as DANCHEK pH meter INDICATOR STRIPS and as ‘DANCHEK’ pH MONITOR WINDOW for Film Cans and Acid Free Boxes

The DANCHEK pH INDICATOR STRIP is a piece of dyed filter paper, 10 x 40 mm. It is a very sensitive indicator and will sense Vinegar Syndrome when in contact with film. The colour is blue when fresh in the pouch, changing to pale yellow when exposed to an acid environment. Keep the pouch closed and squeeze out the air to protect the remaining indicator strips from unwanted colour change.You will find a small bag in the pouch filled with silica doped with a strong alkaline to preserve the colour until needed.

DANCHEK pH MONITOR WINDOW fits into the side of a film can or box and monitors the atmosphere within for any signs of Vinegar Syndrome — acetic acid. The DANCHEK Acetate Monitor can sense degrading films long before the human nose can detect any vinegar. If the DANCHEK MONITOR shows light green — pH4.6 the film has probably reached the autocatalytic point and duplication of the film should be considered.
The monitors are light sensitive and should be treated with care.
Keep them in a bag in the dark until needed

Place the filter paper on the film (with gloves) and start the stop watch. The strip test takes 2 hours and is a very accurate way of testing a film. Tests are performed at room temperature.

DANCHEK MONITORS clip into an 11mm hole for which a special film can punch can be supplied.

If the colour changes to olive green you have reached the critical autocatalytic point, which is the point when you should consider separating the film from the rest of the collection and schedule the film's duplication. If the indicator strip has not reacted within 24 hours there is nothing critically wrong and the film may be stored in the vault. Do not leave the indicator in the open air because it will fade within 24 hours.

DANCHEK Monitors could also be used in Boxes and Storage Drawers by drilling an 11mm hole.

pH Value At pH Value 6.0 At pH Value 5.00 At ph Value 4.8	At pH Value 4.6 At pH Value 4.4 At pH Value 4.2	At pH Value 4.0
COLOURBLUEBLUEMIDDLE GREEN	OLIVE GREENYELLOWYELLOW	YELLOW
Level001	233	3
Smellnonenoneweak	weakstrongstrong	strong

SAFETY NOTE

Quoted from Image Permanence Institute in Rochester Close contact with severely degraded acetete and nitrate films (touching and sniffing) may be a health hazard. Acetic acid and other acidic products emitted by degraded film have been known to produce contact burns, skin and mucous membrane irritations and other physiological effects. Protective gloves and adequate ventilation are strongly recommended when handling degraded films.

Danlock Hole Punch

The Danlock is designed to punch a hole in the side of a film can or box to take the Danchek Monitor Window.

Code	Item	Pack/Qty	Price (£)
SUDCIS1020	Danchek pH Indicator Strip Size: 10 x 20 mm	500	£34.90
SUDCIS1040	Danchek pH Indicator Strip Size: 10 x 40 mm	250	£30.00
	Danchek pH Monitor Window	100	£60.00
	Danlock Hole Punch		POA

Plus Packing, Postage & VAT

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Danchek Film Indicators

SAFETY NOTE

Danlock Hole Punch

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