3 ms·

Is cellolose acetate the material used for (sun)glasses? Didn’t know it had a tendency to warp.

• hammock 3y ago
  Yes. Cellulose acetate warps or breaks down in two main ways: it can warp from plasticizer migration, and it can “weep” or liquify as it ages. Weeping has been called “vinegar syndrome” because of the smell involved, which of course is acetic acid.
  • kjkjadksj 3y ago
    Best to store the ray bans in a jar of vinegar then?
    • hammock 3y ago
      Storing in vinegar would catalyze and accelerate the decomposition of the acetate. And once it starts, it can’t be stopped. To prevent decomposition, use breathable enclosures and store in a low temperature and low relative humidity. Proper storage and handling practices, particularly using gloves and storing in low light environments, can prevent vinegar syndrome almost entirely. These are learnings gleaned from those involved in the historical preservation of acetate photographic films.