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Camphor vs. Tarnish

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Author	Topic: Camphor vs. Tarnish
WGS Posts: 136 Registered: Oct 99	posted 02-05-2003 04:17 PM Occasionally I see suggestions about storing a block of camphor in a silver chest in order to inhibit tarnishing. On the other hand, most articles about silver care don't mention this technique. Does the technique work? We need information from some of you chemists again and not just anecdotes. ------------------ IP: Logged
Stephen Posts: 625 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 02-06-2003 01:39 PM There may be a connection to Parkesine (invented 1840) and Celluloid (patented 1869) cutlery handles. Celluloid contained camphor, Parkesine did not. Just a guess, I defer to the organic chemists out there. IP: Logged
DaleNelson unregistered	posted 02-06-2003 02:44 PM I keep my silver in a Korean merchants tansu that is made out of camphor wood. I always wrap it in fabric as camphor can leave a stain or oily residue. The silver remains bright and shiny. Just what we need, another anecdote. IP: Logged
Bob and Carol Carnighan Posts: 63 Registered: Apr 99	posted 02-06-2003 03:16 PM We once went to an estate tag sale where camphor was kept in the silver cabinet. It is not obvious to me (Ph.D., organic chemistry, Illinois) why camphor would prevent tarnish. It has only one active functional group (a ketone) and would react much like acetone. Camphor might have been used to keep bugs out of rarely opened containers. IP: Logged
Arg(um)entum Posts: 304 Registered: Apr 2002	posted 02-06-2003 06:31 PM Here is an unrelated discussion that may shed some light on the question. Camphor and Rust click here! Extracts: "It works by displacing moist air and coating the tools ..." "..camphor has a fairly high vapor pressure and forms a 'greasy' coating ..." IP: Logged
Stephen Posts: 625 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 02-07-2003 01:50 AM Would anything happen if I kept camphor in a container with Parkesine or Celluloid? Would it make it less brittle or less prone to cracking? IP: Logged
doobees Posts: 277 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 02-07-2003 10:06 AM well, my brother the science teacher said: " camphor has the ability to bind with hydrogen sulfide gas. Charcoal does the same thing. That will keep the silver from tarnishing." IP: Logged
Arg(um)entum Posts: 304 Registered: Apr 2002	posted 02-07-2003 01:34 PM "Would anything happen if I kept camphor in a container with Parkesine or Celluloid? I don't know the chemistry but would be extremely wary. You might try a long term controlled experiment with some inexpensive items if you have any. But I wouldn't risk anything good. A quick scan of the first few entries Google brings up includes: ... used ... as a plasticizer in cellulose nitrate plastics..." "... used in the manufacture of celluloid and explosives..." This reminds me too much of the damage suffered 20-30 years ago by so many stamp collectors when it turned out that the newly introduced plastic mounts contained plasticisers that attacked the dyes. IP: Logged
Louise Posts: 22 Registered: May 2001	posted 02-17-2003 10:21 PM Hi, I have dealt with a few dealers who have used camphor to retard tarnish, it does work but with a price. The smell of the camphor is absorbed into the silver and is very hard to remove. Think about the nice flavor it would add to your food. Yuck! IP: Logged

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