Are there bacteria inside old electrolytic capacitators ?

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The electrolyte is acid, not bug friendly. But it does leak, especially in cheap caps that are overheated.

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The hard brown stuff on the outside of an electrolytic capacitor is the glue used to hold it to the PCB so that it doesn't fall over during wave soldering.

However, the electrolyte does leak:

From my experience, the stuff that leaks out the top is usually white or yellow, while the stuff that leaks out the bottom is dark brown or black, presumably from the electrolyte reacting with the rubber plug.

Drivel: If you think that bacteria, mold, or fungus are attacking your tools, that's also wrong. Here's some "white plastic rot":

The bubbling from within the capacitors is likely the result of "capacitor plague", which is an electrochemical reaction that doesn't require the activity of bacteria. It's caused by a bad (incomplete) electrolyte formula, which lacks stabilizers to protect the aluminum electrodes from corrosion. The corrosion process releases hydrogen gas and eventually causes the caps to vent.

I've seen that too. I find that hot water and scrubbing with a white scotchbrite pad takes the fungus off; no buffing needed.

Joe Gwinn

It's not bacteria, mold, or fungus. Look at my microscope photos and see if you can recognize anything that might be alive. My best guess is that it's some kind of decomposition of the acrylic (cellulose acetate butyrate) plastic. If I scrape off some of white stuff, it will dissolve in acetone, exactly like the base CAB plastic. When I gave the handle an acetone vapor wash, the white stuff "melted" into a smooth glossy surface. Bacteria, mold or fungus doesn't act like that.

Also, older tool handles smell like vomit:

I looked. It does not look like what has been happening to my Xcelite screwdrivers, and Craftsman to a lesser extent. I'd guess that the white stuff is some kind of plasticizer.

What often works is naptha (lighter fluid); this will not dissolve the base resin. Also try alcohol.

The vomit smell is definitely Butyrate resins. This cannot be fixed, except by replacement of the handle.

Joe Gwinn