Buzzbait said:
It's news to me. Many plastics hold up just fine to exposure from ammonia. It's just a matter of what plastic you're talking about, and the amount of exposure.
Let me clue you in on a well kept secret. Ammonia ships in plastic bottles.
Some people love to take tiny little bits of factual information, and inflate them to the point of absurdity.
Exactly: We do not know the plastic and/or the coatings that Apple has seen fit to put on it.
Here is a link to a story on Apple Insider that indicates that the Nano will have an addition protective layer applied – which means that its likely that a similar process is/was done for the iPod Video.
appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1367
I’m pretty dumb when it comes to chemistry, since it was just my minor – so I will not purport to be someone who is conversant in polymers and their reactions; all I do know is that when in doubt, especially on a device like this, it is best to use caution.
If you want to experiment on your 300 – 400 dollar iPod, and hope there is not an adverse reaction that gradually becomes visible over the next few months, then knock yourself out.
Oh, and your “Windex is in plastic” is not accurate, since different reagents behave differently. For example, Acetone will dissolve polycarbonate (IIRC) plastic in a few days but it can be stored in plastic containers. The point? Plastics will react differently – so just because Windex come in plastic bottles, does not mean it will not harm another type of plastic.
Personally, I will…
1. Stick to dilute SDS
2. Assume Windex does not put expensive anti-scratch coatings on their bottles that might react to their product
3. Assume that the plastic formulation used in Windex bottles is made especially for the presence of Windex; something that Apple does no necessarily will do.
Again, I’m not an expert on plastic and the coatings – but until we know what has been used and applied, we should use caution.