Log in

View Full Version : Shelf Life of flexible plastic parts....


Death_at_Midnight
03-25-2010, 09:01 PM
Greetings all!

I just noticed that two of my Indiana Jones hats, that softish rubber/plastic, has turned hard. They haven't been in the sun, they were kept in the dark, two separate locations. But they are hard and I'm wondering if anyone here has noticed a similar thing with their Jones' collection. How about other toy lines? Any other line have you noticed the plastics becoming brittle?

Several of my Bravo Team figures the plastic is becoming brittle. One snapped in half, and just this weekend I tried to move the hand of one, and it just fell off.. leaving the peg part of the hand still in the arm.

Plastic eventually breaks down, I know, and without maintenance, can break down quicker. Most toys are not made to be shelf life items for 20 years or more. Just used and replaced in a few months. It seems some Bravo Team figures are becoming breakable just while they rest on the pegs at the store. Which line seems to be lasting better? I imagine Joe and SW lines for their collector markets. Do you do anything special to protect your figure's plastics? Armor All them against UV? Hide them in a bank vault?

pbarny1701
03-26-2010, 08:13 AM
Heat, humidity, salinity of the air all play a role too.