Date   : Sun, 25 Jun 2006 22:31:57 +0100
From   : Philip Pemberton <philpem@...>
Subject: Re: More Eurobeebness

Sprow wrote:
 > In article <449EE2EF.5050208@...>,
 >    Philip Pemberton <philpem@...> wrote:
 >>> About 20 of those boards are probably beyond repair - battery leakage
 >> I've repaired damage caused by battery leakage - usually it's a case of 
attacking the corrosion with a fibreglass pen to remove the crap, vinegar to 
neutralise the acid
 >
 > I'm confused. Vinegar is acetic acid, so how would that neutralise acid? 
Robert.

Nickel-type rechargeable and alkaline primary cells contain an alkaline 
electrolyte - usually potassium hydroxide. "battery acid" is a generic term 
that hails from the days where the only batteries that were really available 
were lead-acid accumulators (think "car battery").

Because KOH is alkaline, you add an acid to neutralise it (spirit vinegar is a 
good one - easily available and about the right strength to do the job 
properly), then wash with water to remove the acid, then IPA to force out the 
water.

-- 
Phil.                         | Kitsune: Acorn RiscPC SA202 64M+6G ViewFinder
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