does zinc pest 'spread' from badge to badge

[DaveNZ]

hey there

i have just noticed that two of my U boat badges have the very start of zinc pest

couple of small spots where the zinc is changing colour and crumbles off if rubbed. just small spots tho nothing major.

I keep all my u boat badges in a box together.

does ZP spread from badge to badge?

should I keep the ZP U boat badges seperate from other zinc badges>or will it make no difference? Not really sure. have read some threads but still not sure if i should keep these badges apart or not.

cheers in advance

dave

[schönbeck]

isnt it better that you keep the badges on a place with lower humidity?

[DaveNZ]

isnt it better that you keep the badges on a place with lower humidity?

i do but i think these badges already had the start of zp before i got them.

Now i have them i wonder if to keep them apart from other zinc badges or if in fact there is no problem of the zp spreading to other badges

[schönbeck]

since its a reaction in the material i find it most unlikely that it would spread.
I live in northern europe and I have never seen that zincpest changes in the speed you say. My only guess would be that the badges have been refinished and the pest is coming through. Post pics, easier to tell.

[Stahlhelm]

There are only two known primary causes of zinc pest--again, those are humidity and/or lead impurities in the zinc. From everything I have read, learned, and experienced myself, I see NO reason to believe that zinc pest is contagious. It just doesn't even make any sense that it should be. In order for that to be the case, the zinc pest would have to emit something in the environment to propogate itself. Again, from all I know, that simply doesn't happen. It is more likely that the same environmental conditions in which all items are kept together and/or lead impurities in the zinc are the culprit. As picky as I am about all such issues, I would not hesitate to store such pieces together.

Chris

[Justin P]

Hi Dave

Good to see your looking after your Awards, I think some times people wipe away ZP and lightly smear with Ren wax on area, And after time you can see the Pest again. Would go with what Chris has Said. I park my Car next to a rusty old Truck Most of the time I think I'm safe doing so.

[DaveNZ]

I park my Car next to a rusty old Truck Most of the time I think I'm safe doing so.

thanks guys i think i have got this sorted now.

hey Justin; depends who is driving the truck

[münster]

i have seen it spread from lots i have scored that were stored poorly for decades, you can see where it transferred from one badge to another.

[Steinar]

I would separate those pest badges from the "healthy" ones, and tried to find a better way to store them, with low humidity and I would of tried to slow the pest from spreading further.

Good luck. Never give up, the solution is there

[Nordmark]

Zinc pest is a chemical reaction, not a disease. The chemical reaction appears if two metals of a different material(alloy) touch each other while they are stored, or as stated in surroundings with a high humidity.

[evilmike]

you've got to stay up late, with a rolled up newspaper and lie in wait for old zinc pest to come out from hiding and squash him

[Stahlhelm]

I personally don't even recommend tempting bad luck and storing such pieces together, allowing them to make actual physical contact. However, in over 15 years of displaying lightly-infected pieces with noninfected pieces, I have seen nothing spread.

Chris

[Scott-W]

I picked up a bronze IAB from an antique mall for cheap the other day due to both zink pest AND bubbling. The pest was on the wreath and bayonet area,I removed it with a toothbrush and soap,but some detail of the leaf underneath was missing,but the reverse is a bubble nightmare! The S.H.u Co.41 MM is barely visible due to the removed pest an bubbling.Still not bad for a $25 outlay,makes a good salty filler for the display. What do ye recommend as a preservative? Ren Wax? Got Vaseline on it now... \