From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxm!prgclb Newsgroups: net.audio Title: Re: Tape Deck Upkeep Article-I.D.: ihuxm.142 Posted: Tue Jan 4 10:07:09 1983 Received: Wed Jan 5 01:32:16 1983 References: whuxk.134 Bill Mitchell had a minor error in his article on tape deck maintenance. He said that Freon is trichlorethylene (or vice-versa). Freon is a *fluorinated* hydrocarbon, whereas trichlorethylene is a *chlorinated* hydrocarbon. Freon, by the way, is a trademark (not sure what company -- I think DuPont) for a *family* of fluorinated hydrocarbons predominantly used in refrigeration, and until the recent ozone scare, as an aerosol propellant. Trichlorethylene, on the other hand, is a specific chlorinated hydrocarbon compound with two double-bonded carbons and three chlorine atoms. It, and its cousin perchlorethylene, is used as a dry-cleaning and grease-removing fluid. Available in hardware and paint stores under a number of trade names (e.g. carbo-chlor), it's great for cleaning, say, dirty bicycle chains, but I'm not so sure about using it on tape heads (unless, of course, your tape deck owner's manual says it's okay). Bill, don't take this as a put-down of your article -- it was complete and comprehensive. Just thought I'd take this chance to brush up on my organic chemistry . . . Carl Blesch Bell Labs - Naperville, Ill. IH 2A-159, (312) 979-3360 ihuxm!prgclb