Industrial Scientific
& Medical Applications
of Underwater Photographic Equipment.
Decontamination and sterilisation:
Ewa-marine camera, video, and sports/outdoor products, are suitable
for protecting cameras and other equipment from many laboratory
and industrial processes (e.g., radioactive or pathogenic contamination).
Hard housings with O-ring sealed control shafts are much more
difficult to decontaminate. Due to the use of low melting-point
plastics, ewa-marine and other housings cannot be autoclaved,
but can, in most cases, be sterilised using sodium hypochlorite
solution. To prevent corrosion of metal parts and damage to optical
surfaces, it is advisable that equipment sterilised in hypochlorite
should be immersed in tap-water after use, to remove residual
sodium chloride deposits.
Exposure to chemicals and UV light.
Many laboratory and industrial chemicals will attack or degrade
the materials used in the manufacture of camera housings. Data
on the plastics used should always be consulted before exposing
housings to any solvents, fuels, or other potentially corrosive
materials. The following points should be noted in this respect:
 Stressed acrylic
(i.e., acrylic mouldings) will shatter spontaneously in contact
with alcohols (ethanol, IPA, etc.)
Lexan (Polycarbonate)
is attacked by chlorinated hydrocarbons, particularly 1,2-dichloroethane,
which dissolves it.
ABS and PVC are
attacked by Furans (e.g., THF), Ketones (e.g., MEK), and chlorinated
hydrocarbons.
NBR and Buna (O-rings)
cannot withstand prolonged exposure to UV light. |
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