What is that white stuff in the battery compartment?



#3

A recently acquired HP-65 has white staining in the battery compartment, presumably from a leaked battery. I can't get it off. I tried to remove it with swabs with only water, but after it dried up it seemed worse. Then I used lemon juice, from a small bottle that is normally used for cooking. That did not do much at all. Before I move on to more aggressive solvents, I thought I would ask if anyone here knows what exactly the white stuff is, and how it can be removed.
On the same topic: which chemicals leak from a NiCd battery in general and how toxic or aggressive are they? Is there cadmium or a cadmium compound coming out at some point?


#4

Ordinary white vinegar will dissolve that stuff, although you want to make sure you clean off all the vinegar with something (distilled water, isopropanol, etc.) afterwards.

#5

Quote:
A recently acquired HP-65 has white staining in the battery compartment, presumably from a leaked battery. I can't get it off. I tried to remove it with swabs with only water, but after it dried up it seemed worse. Then I used lemon juice, from a small bottle that is normally used for cooking. That did not do much at all. Before I move on to more aggressive solvents, I thought I would ask if anyone here knows what exactly the white stuff is, and how it can be removed.
On the same topic: which chemicals leak from a NiCd battery in general and how toxic or aggressive are they? Is there cadmium or a cadmium compound coming out at some point?

I used antiseptic alcohol to remove those stains in three occasions and the results were encouraging. It's because:
1) it isn't corrosive to metal;
2) it dissolves both organic and inorganic compounds; and
3) it evaporates rapidly

I hope my experience can help! :)

The white stuff may be the oxides or hydroxides of cadmium.


#6

Quote:
The white stuff may be the oxides or hydroxides of cadmium.

I sure hope not, because cadmium is very poisonous.

#7

If there is a suspected leakage of material from a nickel-cadmium battery, then also suspect that it is toxic. Touching a small amount won't hurt you; but do wash your hands and do not ingest any. This sounds silly, but grown people do lick their fingers when they need a little more grip, for example. Do wear thin latex or nitrile gloves. Water will remove it better than alcohol, but in the case of the former, don't use much, just a damp paper towel.

I would recommend also that you do not dispose of the used paper towels, etc. in the trash, if there is a lot of it. With just a smear or little bit of the "white stuff", then it should not be problem.

Cadmium is an internal organ poison and nickel... well, it's not good for you, either, but it's less of an issue than cadmium.


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  50g battery compartment Jan 3 1,600 11-04-2013, 02:46 AM
Last Post: Derek Walker (UK)
  HP 41c with white trim instead of yellow Jose Gonzalez Divasson 2 1,242 02-01-2013, 07:47 PM
Last Post: Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)
  Great white shark sighted in CL reef... Ángel Martin 7 2,305 10-26-2012, 11:35 AM
Last Post: Richard Wagoner
  More Slide Rule Stuff... . .... Thomas Chrapkiewicz 1 1,141 09-25-2012, 03:41 PM
Last Post: Kiyoshi Akima
  2K==A lot of place for (HP-28C) stuff Matt Agajanian 4 1,787 05-21-2012, 09:59 PM
Last Post: Dominic Richens
  aOT--Battery/battery contact care advice needed Matt Agajanian 0 1,186 04-24-2012, 07:35 PM
Last Post: Matt Agajanian
  Hard or wanted CAS stuff Oliver Unter Ecker 9 2,967 04-16-2012, 04:32 AM
Last Post: Mike (Stgt)
  New stuff Matt Agajanian 8 2,804 03-17-2012, 02:22 PM
Last Post: Ángel Martin
  HP 71B, lurking, thanks and other stuff Geoff Quickfall 2 1,144 03-23-2011, 04:30 PM
Last Post: Karl-Ludwig Butte
  another old stuff museum site db (martinez, ca.) 2 1,343 02-13-2011, 09:14 AM
Last Post: Paul Berger (Canada)

Forum Jump: