Retrobright Damages Plastics – 10 Year

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Summary: Retrobright Damages Plastics – A Decade-Long Test

This video explores the long-term effects of “Retrobright,” the popular chemical process used to reverse yellowing in vintage plastics, concluding with a strong recommendation against using the method.

The creator starts by showcasing a Sega Dreamcast that was partially treated with Retrobright (the classic hydrogen peroxide cream in the sun method) a decade ago in 2015. Although the initial results showed some improvement, the speaker became skeptical and left the console disassembled as a long-term experiment.

The video then briefly touches on other experiments conducted in 2019 using different methods, including the Sous Vide (SUV) method and highly elaborate setups involving ozone and UVC light. These experiments were costly, complex, and sometimes hazardous, ultimately yielding inconclusive or unsatisfactory results, leading the creator to shelve the idea of finding a safe and sustainable Retrobright process.

The 10-Year Results: Evidence of Damage

The core of the video focuses on the condition of the Dreamcast case a full decade after the initial treatment:

• Re-yellowing and Damage: The plastic that was retrobrighted has not only re-yellowed but now exhibits visible streaking and blotching, suggesting that the chemical process damaged the surface of the plastic rather than restoring it. The speaker suggests a bleached coating was applied that is now failing, revealing yellowed plastic underneath.
• Worse than Untreated Areas: Most damningly, a section on the bottom shell that was protected by vinyl tape and never retrobrighted is now visibly whiter than the adjacent areas that were treated. This suggests that the Retrobright process, far from being a permanent fix, actually degraded the plastic in a way that accelerated or worsened its yellowing over time compared to leaving it alone.
• Other Concerns: The speaker also expresses concerns about the unknown long-term impact on the plastic’s strength and the difficulty of responsibly disposing of the hydrogen peroxide and plastic chemical mixture used in some methods.

Conclusion

Based on these results, the video’s firm conclusion is: Do not retrobrite. The plastic still yellows, and the treatment can ultimately make the plastic look worse than if it had been left untreated.

[thumbtak]

If there is a way, and you could do it, perfectly, would painting the plastic the exact same color, be better?

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