[ARC5] Tropical Coating -MFP

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 21 Feb 2010 at 11:19, Gene Smar wrote:

>      What your are probably seeing is what is known as MFP - Moisture and 
> Fungus Proof - coating.

MoistureFungusProofing - MFP

Yes. I love the smell of that stuff.

>  It was applied after assembly to all WWII and 
> Korean War vintage milrads.

Not necessarily all. It depends on when it was applied. Early in the war, it 
went on gear going to the Pacific and other high-humidity areas. Later, as 
more became available, it was applied to all gear.

>      Some time back there was a thread hereabouts that described the exact 
> components that went into the coating.  IIRC, it was bees wax and varnish. 

It also contains formaldehyde. 

As I remember it, our previous discussion on the subject was also attended 
by an industrial chemist who advised against our attempting to recreate the 
goop as the process was somewhat dangerous. 

Either when being made, or when liquid, MFP is poisonous. It isn't when dry, 
and any fumes from removing it with heat to solder are not dangerous either.

I may have those discussions (and I am not ever sure they were from THIS 
list) saved in my voluminous files. (I am in information junkie).

If we are interested enough I will dig out the formula for you.

In any case, the stuff was almost completely effective for its purpose, which 
was to prevent moisture damage to electronic gear and the subsequent 
appearance of copious quantities of fungus which made the gear inoperable.

In any case, I love the smell of the stuff.

Ken Gordon W7EKB