Chemicals and plastic

Hey again,

I checked my chemicals and sounds most of them are unopened or unused so not sure if they are still good or not, most my chemicals have about 3-5 years old, i will check them one by one on time.

My question is, if i use chemicals in plastic containers/beakers/tubes, what will be the effect that may occur on chemicals or the plastic itself? I use glass tubes to mix the chemicals for dilution, but sounds i always feel scared to touch them as they break quickly once dropped even closer to hard surfaces, i had 1 beaker broke and one tube also broke because slippery surface in bathroom, so for beaker i planned to move to plastic one as i can't carry that 5L beaker filled with liquid when i mix for developer, that was the reason it broke as it slipped from my hand even it was closer to the ground, and with tube it may happen even the tube are lightweight with liquid and i can't be sure when it may slip or drop by accident.

So, if i use plastic things for mixing, do the chemicals stay fine or they will catch something even for few seconds/minutes?

Can't wait to return back to develop films.

Dear TareqPhoto,

You will have no problems using plastic mixing containers or beakers with normal photographic chemicals. All professional processors use plastic containers to store and transport chemicals without issue. Further, if you look around you will find that very few liquid photographic chemicals are sold in glass bottles.

Always remember that if your chemicals are going bad in storage you're not making enough photos!

Neal Wydra

Oh, i should think about that, i forgot that developers are in plastic bottles, thanks to remind me!

Now i am not sure if my chemicals are bad or not, i will shoot 1 or 2 rolls and process them later and see if the chemicals are still working fine!

The problem with chemicals will be like how much good or bad they are, and if they are nearly bad but still can do the job isn't here some kind of compensation time to be in safe side?

Plastic is fine for making up black & white and color chemicals. Just rinse well as soon as you can.

For storage of solutions, PET plastic (soda/seltzer bottles) is a good barrier to air/oxygen which affects chemicals. Kodak's recommendation is storage up to 6 months in a closed bottle that is filled or has air excluded from the top and is kept in the dark.

I will test my chemical sooner or later, and i gonna buy beakers or even tubes that are plastic, i am tired to worry much about glass things as i know accidents happen a lot, and after 2 glasses had been broken i can't trust glass again, but i will keep them just for backup.

Yes, i will rinse them very soon to keep them clean.

Most of the plastic containers I have have a "2" on the bottom inside a triangle. Seems I've read that's not good.

I use plastic containers and I just rinse them thoroughly.

I have the brown plastic jugs and the accordion style containers. I don't think they keep chemicals well.

I use plastic containers and I just rinse them thoroughly.

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As in old 2 liter Coke bottles?

I am not talking about storing chemicals, but i am talking about mixing the chemicals either for preparing a developer from a powder or mixing for dilution.

For that I just use the plastic graduates...1 liter size usually.

ColColt said:

For that I just use the plastic graduates...1 liter size usually.

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I prefer 500ml as to fine the dilution better, i use that 500-600 tank more, but i will buy 1 liter plastic graduates as well for emergency when i need chemicals for more than 500ml up to 1L.

TareqPhoto said:

I am not talking about storing chemicals, but i am talking about mixing the chemicals either for preparing a developer from a powder or mixing for dilution.

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For mixing up 5 ltr batches of ID11 and Bromophen from powder, I just use a standard polythene bucket. Of course I don't use a bucket which is used for normal cleaning tasks, it is specifically reserved for developer mixing and well rinsed out afterwards.

When filling a multi-reel film-tank I use a plastic graduate to mix/measure the chemicals but for the actual pouring in and out of the tank I use the same sort of polythene plastic jugs one would use for the kitchen. They are clearly marked as to the specific use ("1", "2", "3") and stored in a closed cupboard away from the kitchen, of course.

I think i shouldn't make it more complicated, i was developing using glass tubes and mixing in glass beakers, and those were a headache or nightmare, i just need to replace them and use plastic instead, i just asked if the plastic will affect in the mixing process, but you answered me already, so i will get plastic items good quality used for lab or good enough and keep going.

Thanks!

I have at least one heavy gauge plastic graduate. I use it often, it was made by Kodak! Don't worry, be happy!

The problem with the accordion fold storage bottles is the difficulty in cleaning them out thoroughly.

I bought cheap plastic graduated cup used in kitchen for measuring volume, the plastic is not that good quality and it is cheap and it is transparent look like a glass, so i will give it a try until i can buy another better quality plastic graduated measuring tubes.

If i don't feel sleepy or lazy i may develop one film today, not sure which one of the two, and not sure which development, but at the end it is just test as usual, and whatever i get is just for fun and test and it is not serious thing.