Anti-Fogging Treatments for New Masks. (a comparison of techniques)

[lowviz]

Next steps

I plan to leave the new mask soaking in ammonia solution for two weeks to see if the ammonia is detrimental to glass/skirt/seal. The mask that I baked will be dishwasher cleaned then coated with baby shampoo and stored for two weeks to see if it is still 'good' after such treatment. I figure that the Ides of March would be a good time for the next test. I'll review this entire thread and answer all suggestions as to treatments. That input is most appreciated.

After that, I'll treat the loaner masks with the current method of choice and begin returning them.

And then there is the wrap-up. @Johnoly: Materials have been ordered.

Suggestions/criticisms always welcome, as usual...

 

[saxman242]

The mask that I baked will be dishwasher cleaned then coated with baby shampoo and stored for two weeks to see if it is still 'good' after such treatment.

If you have good long term success with the baked mask, it'll be interesting to try to determine if the heat did something to the glass or if it helped drive out remaining volatiles from the silicone, as you'd be essentially post curing it.

 

[lowviz]

Hmmm. OK, maybe store that mask without any protective storage treatment for starters.

Unless I get any suggestions for this mask, that is what I'm going to do...

 

[lowviz]

If you have good long term success with the baked mask, it'll be interesting to try to determine if the heat did something to the glass or if it helped drive out remaining volatiles from the silicone, as you'd be essentially post curing it.

OK, so I did that. Tomorrow is when the new mask comes out of a 2-week soak in household ammonia solution, good time to test your question.

Most interesting! The ammonia-treated but uncoated (for storage) mask was hard to fog, but the fog pattern was MOST interesting:


That central fog pattern tells me (from years of experience) that I'm dealing with a seasoned mask that will be everything that I want with just a bit of spit.

The edges, however, support your suspicion. Yes, even with this old tired sidearm, I could easily be convinced that something is still coming from the skirt. @saxman242, Nice call!


Did a lot of research on ammonium hydroxide in the past few weeks:

Ammonia Uses and Benefits | Chemical Safety Facts

“Ammonia in Household Cleaning Products

On its own or as an ingredient in many household cleaning products, ammonia can be used to clean a variety of household surfaces – from tubs, sinks and toilets to bathroom and kitchen countertops and tiles. Ammonia also is effective at breaking down household grime or stains from animal fats or vegetable oils, such as cooking grease and wine stains. Because ammonia evaporates quickly, it is commonly used in glass cleaning solutions to help avoid streaking.”

“Ammonia, a colorless gas with a distinct odor, is a building-block chemical and a key component in the manufacture of many products people use every day. It occurs naturally throughout the environment in the air, soil and water and in plants and animals, including humans. The human body makes ammonia when the body breaks down foods containing protein into amino acids and ammonia, then converting the ammonia into urea.”

“In aquatic organisms the most common form of nitrogen waste is ammonia, whereas land-dwelling organisms convert the toxic ammonia to either urea or uric acid. Urea - Wikipedia”

Fish can excrete ammonia immediately into their environment. We can’t be walking around with dissolved ammonia in our bladders so we need the added step of converting it to harmless urea.



Tomorrow, I will go down to my secret underground laboratory and evaluate @MAKO Spearguns mask that has been soaking in household ammonia for two weeks. Stay tuned...

 

[lowviz]

Two weeks soaking in household ammonia solution with absolutely no obvious ill effects! Not that I recommend this mask abuse, but it does speak to the tremendous cleaning ability and yet the very low impact that household ammonia has on a standard frameless silicone skirt mask that uses plain glass lenses:


If you look closely in the upper right you will see colored interference fringes from the water sheeting off the glass in an incredibly thin film. AFAIC, this is a wrap!

So household ammonia, dishwasher treatment, and the mandatory use of any defog (no matter how clean the glass happens to be) are the take-aways from this community effort. I'll write this up tonight (my time)...

 

[tridacna]

I'll still use toothpaste and yellow baby shampoo. And avoid Atomic masks. Finis.

 

[lowviz]

Luddite.

 

[tridacna]

Luddite.

If it aint broke...

 

[Couv]

If it aint broke...

...then you haven't tested enough.

 

[stuartv]

Two weeks soaking in household ammonia solution with absolutely no obvious ill effects! Not that I recommend this mask abuse, but it does speak to the tremendous cleaning ability and yet the very low impact that household ammonia has on a standard frameless silicone skirt mask that uses plain glass lenses:
View attachment 574172

If you look closely in the upper right you will see colored interference fringes from the water sheeting off the glass in an incredibly thin film. AFAIC, this is a wrap!

So household ammonia, dishwasher treatment, and the mandatory use of any defog (no matter how clean the glass happens to be) are the take-aways from this community effort. I'll write this up tonight (my time)...

It's a wrap?!?

What is the minimum time you really have to soak a mask in ammonia? Surely it's not really 2 weeks.

How often do you have to re-soak it in ammonia to maintain its fog-resistance?

There are still more questions to be answered!