Yucky bits in brand new bottle of RA4 developer concentrate

DavidJRobertson

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2017
Messages
63
Location
Central Scotland
Format
35mm
Thought I'd give RA4 printing a go so ordered Adox's 2.5l RA4 kit. Once I took the bottles of concentrate out of the box, lots of solid bits at the bottom of the developer bottle were immediately visible. Looks sort of flaky, definitely not crystalline. Perhaps some kind of microbial growth? Also, there's what appears to be droplets of a viscous oily substance which has separated out and deposited on the walls of the bottle.

Has anyone seen this before? I haven't tried using it yet so I don't know how well it'll work.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,411
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
The more you shake it the smaller the parts. The smaller the parts the faster the parts go into solution.
 

BMbikerider

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
2,962
Location
UK
Format
35mm
I find that if you store a bottle of concentrate in an area of the house which is slightly above the ambient temperature these 'flaky bits' will tend to either not form or are reduced over time. For what it is worth, these 'flaky bits' will probably have no detrimental effect on the developer. Concentrates of RA4 developer should always be diluted with water at a temp between 25 and 35 degrees C and this will in all probability get rid of them anyway.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,411
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Heating the chemicals will help get the particles back into solution. Then gently cool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…