<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""><div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Dec 28, 2023, at 7:51 AM, Florian Anwander <<a href="mailto:fanwander@mnet-online.de" class="">fanwander@mnet-online.de</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class="">
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Those materials require so
called plasticizers (softeners). These diffuse towards the surface
at room temperature, where they then evaporate - normally. If the
material is not ventilated, the plasticizers dissolve the top
layer of the plastic quite quickly, which then becomes sticky. If
the material can ventilate, it becomes brittle and fragile.
Neither is a good option.<br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote><br class=""></div><div>Plasticizer (or elasticizer) is required for PVC, which is quite hard without it. I collect old Christmas lights and I've seen vinyl AC cords that have turned into plastic rock. Cracked all along the length of it like a mudflat in the dry season. Christmas light wires these days use lead which makes them very flexible. I've never seen lead "dry out" but then you have to wash your hands before you stick a finger in your mouth—in California, anyway. </div><div><br class=""></div><div>"New car smell" is the elasticizer in the vinyl. </div><div><br class=""></div><br class=""><div class="">
<div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">Terry Bowman, KA4HJH<br class="">"The Mac Doctor"<br class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://www.astarcloseup.com" class="">https://www.astarcloseup.com</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">"If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes."—Roy Batty, <i class="">Blade Runner</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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