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Error in Diafine chemistry
kpshrink@att.net
Posted 7 years ago
I used to use Diafine "many" years ago in my youth, and I remember that
Diafine B had carbonate in it, not present in the most recent published
borate formulas. This led me to find the ancient MSDS that stated both A and
B had "Trisodium Phosphate" in it. This is incorrect. If you actually look
up the CAS# for their ingredient (CAS:10124-56-8), it is Sodium
Hexametaphosphate, a chelating agent to reduce calcium scum in the
solutions. VERY different chemicals, as TSP is highly alkaline and will
mess up your results. When I subbed Sodium Carbonate for Sodium Metaborate,
the results on TriX looked just like those negs from the good old days. The
original Diafine MSDS also adds Potassium Bromide to Part A (probably around
1g/L) and Citric Acid instead of Sodium Bisulfite (about 5-6g/L) to reduce
pH in part A. I guess that's why my Diafine A in the old days used to get a
skim of mold on top (citrate) that doesn't appear in the more modern
versions (bisulfite). Its still good stuff and soooo easy to use.
Diafine B had carbonate in it, not present in the most recent published
borate formulas. This led me to find the ancient MSDS that stated both A and
B had "Trisodium Phosphate" in it. This is incorrect. If you actually look
up the CAS# for their ingredient (CAS:10124-56-8), it is Sodium
Hexametaphosphate, a chelating agent to reduce calcium scum in the
solutions. VERY different chemicals, as TSP is highly alkaline and will
mess up your results. When I subbed Sodium Carbonate for Sodium Metaborate,
the results on TriX looked just like those negs from the good old days. The
original Diafine MSDS also adds Potassium Bromide to Part A (probably around
1g/L) and Citric Acid instead of Sodium Bisulfite (about 5-6g/L) to reduce
pH in part A. I guess that's why my Diafine A in the old days used to get a
skim of mold on top (citrate) that doesn't appear in the more modern
versions (bisulfite). Its still good stuff and soooo easy to use.
So exactly what formula and mixing instructions for A and B are you using to make 1 liter of developer for each part?
kpshrink@att.net
Posted 7 years ago
DIAFINE A (Citrate) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Citric Acid 10
Sodium Sulfite (g) 35
Hydroquinone (g) 6
Phenidone (g) 0.2
Benzotriazole (g) 0.01
DIAFINE A (Bisulfite) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Metabisulfite (g) 6
Sodium Sulfite (g) 35
Hydroquinone (g) 6
Phenidone (g) 0.2
Benzotriazole (g) 0.01
DIAFINE B (Carbonate) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
Sodium Carbonate Mono (g) 20
Sodium Bicarbonate (g) 3
DIAFINE B (Kodalk) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Hydroxide (g) 6
Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (g) 29
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
(the hydroxide and borax combine to make about 20g of Sod. Metaborate)
DIAFINE B (Borax) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (g) 20
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
I get all my chems from Antec (info@kyantec.com). Ask for Billy, he's the owner.
All films are 4+4+4 (4 in A, 4 in B, brief water "stop" then 4 in Fixer)
Fixer is modified Agfa 304 (use sodium instead of potassium metabisulfite and add a bit more bisulfite so the alkali in Diafine B doesn't overwhelm the hypo)
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Citric Acid 10
Sodium Sulfite (g) 35
Hydroquinone (g) 6
Phenidone (g) 0.2
Benzotriazole (g) 0.01
DIAFINE A (Bisulfite) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Metabisulfite (g) 6
Sodium Sulfite (g) 35
Hydroquinone (g) 6
Phenidone (g) 0.2
Benzotriazole (g) 0.01
DIAFINE B (Carbonate) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
Sodium Carbonate Mono (g) 20
Sodium Bicarbonate (g) 3
DIAFINE B (Kodalk) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Hydroxide (g) 6
Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (g) 29
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
(the hydroxide and borax combine to make about 20g of Sod. Metaborate)
DIAFINE B (Borax) (pH=?) 1 L
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (g) 2
Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (g) 20
Sodium Sulfite (g) 65
I get all my chems from Antec (info@kyantec.com). Ask for Billy, he's the owner.
All films are 4+4+4 (4 in A, 4 in B, brief water "stop" then 4 in Fixer)
Fixer is modified Agfa 304 (use sodium instead of potassium metabisulfite and add a bit more bisulfite so the alkali in Diafine B doesn't overwhelm the hypo)