Connecting to Collections Care

Hi Nikki, 

Thanks for reaching out to the C2C Care Community! What an interesting question, I'm not sure what the black material is, so I'm going to reach out to our experts who hopefully have a better idea. I would think it is some kind of reaction between the sugar, corrosion of the metal cap, and the acidity of the soda, but I'm really not sure. 

I'll update with any follow-up from the experts, but other members should feel free to chime in!

All the best,

Liz

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------

Hi again Nikki,

I've heard back from some of our experts and they agree with Toms's explanation for what's going on. Thanks, Tom, for sharing!

Best,

Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Peirce
C2C Care Monitor 7/8-7/21
Conservator (Objects)
Library of Congress
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2024 07:09
From: Elizabeth Peirce
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Nikki, 

Thanks for reaching out to the C2C Care Community! What an interesting question, I'm not sure what the black material is, so I'm going to reach out to our experts who hopefully have a better idea. I would think it is some kind of reaction between the sugar, corrosion of the metal cap, and the acidity of the soda, but I'm really not sure. 

I'll update with any follow-up from the experts, but other members should feel free to chime in!

All the best,

Liz

------------------------------
Elizabeth Peirce
C2C Care Monitor 7/8-7/21
Conservator (Objects)
Library of Congress
Washington DC

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------

I presented a paper on a similar topic at the 2019 AIC Meeting in Uncasville (it appears the Postprints are still in progress).  What probably happened was that someone incorrectly assumed this was like a bottle of wine with a wooden cork, and leaning it on its side would help keep the cork wet and sealed, rather than drying out.  Instead however, the acid and the water in the soda caused the rubber or cork gasket in the cap to leak, which caused the metal cap to corrode, which eventually weakened the cap such that it allowed the CO2 to push out the contents, probably relatively slowly (thankfully not explosively!).  The brown color is probably a combination of iron corrosion (rust) and the deterioration/drying of a sugar solution, which often causes it to blacken.  Tom Braun

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------

Thank you Thomas! That is very interesting but makes a lot of sense. 

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2024 12:13
From: Thomas Braun
Subject: Nehi Soda

I presented a paper on a similar topic at the 2019 AIC Meeting in Uncasville (it appears the Postprints are still in progress).  What probably happened was that someone incorrectly assumed this was like a bottle of wine with a wooden cork, and leaning it on its side would help keep the cork wet and sealed, rather than drying out.  Instead however, the acid and the water in the soda caused the rubber or cork gasket in the cap to leak, which caused the metal cap to corrode, which eventually weakened the cap such that it allowed the CO2 to push out the contents, probably relatively slowly (thankfully not explosively!).  The brown color is probably a combination of iron corrosion (rust) and the deterioration/drying of a sugar solution, which often causes it to blacken.  Tom Braun

------------------------------
Thomas Braun
Objects Conservator
Minneapolis MN
(952) 200-0938

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------

Hi Nikki!

Totally agree with Tom's assessment. I did bring this incident forward during the AIHA's Museum and Cultural Heritage Working Group for their thoughts and they said that the phosphoric acid in the soda came into contact with the metal cap (likely the way Tom described tbh) which caused a chemical reaction. While that doesn't explain the "tar", the chemical reaction combined with the sugar in the soda is the most likely suspect. 

Wear gloves, but you should be safe to clean off the display and the bottle with conservator approved cleaning products. You'll probably want to find a replacement cap too.

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------

Thank you for asking around Jessica. I appreciate the help!

Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 09:08
From: Jessica Ricchio
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Nikki!

Totally agree with Tom's assessment. I did bring this incident forward during the AIHA's Museum and Cultural Heritage Working Group for their thoughts and they said that the phosphoric acid in the soda came into contact with the metal cap (likely the way Tom described tbh) which caused a chemical reaction. While that doesn't explain the "tar", the chemical reaction combined with the sugar in the soda is the most likely suspect. 

Wear gloves, but you should be safe to clean off the display and the bottle with conservator approved cleaning products. You'll probably want to find a replacement cap too.

------------------------------
Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365

Original Message:
Sent: 07-11-2024 12:00
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: Nehi Soda

Hi Everyone, 

I discovered this Nehi 1940s imitation strawberry soda in our collection while looking for something else on the same shelf. First of all, the bottle should have never been on this particular shelf because it had to lay on its side (but this was before my time). Because the bottle was on its side, it spilled. I noticed an odd black substance and decided to investigate. I then noticed that the black substance is what leaked out of the Nehi bottle, which is now less than half full. Does anyone know why the substance is black? I have no idea when the spill happened but the black substance is hard and tar like.

I do not have any means of testing the substance to understand what it is. But does anyone have any idea what would have caused this? I assumed it was some sort of chemical reaction of the soda and the metal soda cap.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea what the substance is! And if the substance might pose any harm. 

I appreciate any help, Thanks!

------------------------------
Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
------------------------------