{{Short description|Process for removing yellowing from ABS plastic}} {{Multiple image|direction=horizontal|total_width=440|image1=CoCo2 top before Retr0bright.jpeg|caption1=A TRS-80 Color Computer showing significant yellowing|image2=CoCo2 top after Retr0bright.jpeg|caption2=The same computer after treatment, showing yellowing largely reversed}}
'''Retrobright''' (stylized as '''retr0bright''' or '''retrobrite'''<ref name=branwyn />) is a hydrogen peroxide–based process for removing yellowing from ABS plastics.
Yellowing in ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic occurs when it is exposed to ultraviolet light or excessive heat, which causes photo-oxidation of polymers that breaks polymer chains and causes the plastic to yellow and become brittle.<ref>{{ cite journal | title = Outdoor and accelerated weathering of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene: A correlation study|date=October 2013 | last1 = Santos | first1 = R.M. | author2 = G.L. Botelho | author3 = C. Cramez | author4 = A.V. Machado | journal = Polymer Degradation and Stability | volume = 98 | issue = 10 | page = 2111–2115 | doi = 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.07.016 | pmid = | doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Composition ==
Retrobright consists of hydrogen peroxide, a small amount of TAED (tetraacetylethylenediamine; often advertised as an "active oxygen" laundry booster) as a catalyst, and a source of ultraviolet (UV) light.<ref name=ftl />{{rp|269}}<ref name=branwyn>{{cite book | last=Branwyn | first=Gareth | author-link=Gareth Branwyn | date=2022 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Make_Tips_and_Tales_from_the_Workshop_Vo/q9hyEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22retrobright%22&pg=PT231&printsec=frontcover | title=Make: Tips and Tales from the Workshop | publisher=Make Community | page=140 | edition=Second | isbn=9781680456332 | via=Google Books}}</ref> The yellowed plastic is covered in the solution and then exposed to the UV light for up to several hours or days.<ref name=ftl />{{rp|269–270}}<ref name=branwyn /> Xanthan gum or arrowroot can be added to the solution, creating an easier-to-apply gel.<ref name=com>{{cite book | last=Kahney | first=Leander | author2=David Pierini | date=2019 | edition=2nd | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Cult_of_Mac_2nd_Edition/hVv6DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22retrobright%22&pg=PA179&printsec=frontcover | title=The Cult of Mac | publisher=No Starch Press | page=180 | isbn=9781593279141 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Nerbas | first=Reena | date=July 28, 2012 | id={{ProQuest|1029893262}} | title=How to make a product similar to Retr0bright | work=Winnipeg Free Press | page=F4}}</ref> Hydrogen peroxide–based hair bleaching creams are often used in favor of household hydrogen peroxide because the creams are available in higher concentrations (9 to 12 percent) and are viscous, allowing them to be applied with less waste, especially to large pieces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/super-strong-hair-product-is-the-secret-to-get-old-cons-1638537069|title=The Secret To Keeping Old Consoles Looking New? Hair Product.|first=Evan|last=Narcisse|date=September 24, 2014|work=Kotaku|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=May 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515184040/http://kotaku.com/super-strong-hair-product-is-the-secret-to-get-old-cons-1638537069|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Huber | first=Jeanne | date=May 5, 2016 | id={{ProQuest|1786753552}} | title=Restore yellowing plastic drawer fronts | work=The Washington Post | page=T3}}</ref>
== History ==
The use of hydrogen peroxide on yellowed household plastics had been known as a home repair method as early as the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news | last=Whitman | first=Roger C. | date=February 10, 1964 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advance-cleaning-yellowed-plas/196254292/ | title=Cleaning Yellowed Plastic | work=The Daily Advance | location=Lynchburg, Virginia | page=5 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Staff writer | date=July 31, 1964 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post-ailing-house/196254312/ | title=Ailing House | work=The Cincinnati Post | page=41 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It did not gain currency among hobbyists and collectors until the late 2000s, when a number vintage computing enthusiasts developed a formula involving hydrogen peroxide through discussion on message boards.<ref name=ftl>{{cite book | last=Lendino | first=Jamie | date=2019 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Faster_Than_Light_The_Atari_ST_and_the_1/KkaoDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22retrobright%22&pg=PA269&printsec=frontcover | title=Faster Than Light: The Atari ST and the 16-Bit Revolution | publisher=Steel Gear Press | pages=269–270 | isbn=9781732355217 | via=Google Books}}</ref> In March 2008, the proprietors of a German computer museum, CBM Museum Wuppertal, published online their success story of submerging yellowed computer case parts in hydrogen peroxide for five days.<ref>{{cite web | last=Fitzpatrick | first=Jason | date=March 7, 2009 | url=https://lifehacker.com/retr0bright-restores-yellowed-vintage-plastic-to-factor-5164208 | title=Retr0Bright Restores Yellowed Vintage Plastic to Factory Fresh | work=Lifehacker | publisher=Ziff-Davis | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118055359/https://lifehacker.com/retr0bright-restores-yellowed-vintage-plastic-to-factor-5164208 | archivedate=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=elmundo>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/blogs/elmundo/el-gadgetoblog/2010/05/25/retr0bright-lava-mas-blanco.html|title=Retr0bright lava más blanco|last=Ángel Jiménez de Luis|trans-title=Retr0bright washes more white|date=May 25, 2010|website=El Mundo|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921144825/http://www.elmundo.es/blogs/elmundo/el-gadgetoblog/2010/05/25/retr0bright-lava-mas-blanco.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This news was initially celebrated by the Amiga community in Germany and eventually trickled to the English Amiga Board, where a number of chemist users including Dave Stevenson refined the process further over the summer of 2008, adding TAED to the formula while emphasizing the role of UV light.<ref name=boingbing>{{cite web | last=Doctorow | first=Cory | author-link=Cory Doctorow | date=March 2, 2009 | url=https://boingboing.net/2009/03/02/open-source-computer.html | title=Open source computer polish: Retr0Brite | work=Boing Boing | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921193443/https://boingboing.net/2009/03/02/open-source-computer.html | archivedate=September 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name=crookes>{{cite magazine | last=Crookes | first=David | date=April 28, 2016 | id={{ProQuest|1790181825}} | title=Mod Your Old Computers | work=Micro Mart | publisher=Dennis Publishing | issue=1411 | page=8–9, 12–14, 16}}</ref>{{rp|16}} The term ''retr0bright'' was coined during this period.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Crookes | first=David | date=September 2018 | id={{ProQuest|2117080408}} | title=Preserving the Past | work=Computer Shopper | publisher=Dennis Publishing | issue=367 | page=112–119}}</ref>{{rp|118}}
== Alternatives ==
Sodium percarbonate may also be used by dissolving it in water and following the usual steps for hydrogen peroxide, as it is sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide in a crystalline form.<ref>{{cite web | last=Stewart | first=Terry | date=January 21, 2011 | url=https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2011-01-21-deyellowing-with-oxy-only.htm | title=De-yellowing computers with laundry whiteners (i.e. sodium percarbonate) only | work=Terry Stewart's (Tezza's) Webzone for Classic Computers | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215225604/https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2011-01-21-deyellowing-with-oxy-only.htm | archivedate=December 15, 2025}}</ref>
Ozone gas can also be used for retrobrighting, as long as an ozone generator, a suitable container of sufficient size, and a source of UV are available.<ref name=toms />
A sous-vide method has also been developed, using an immersion circulator (commonly used for sous-vide cooking) to heat a solution of hair bleaching cream and water. This heated solution is then applied to the yellowed plastic. This process is said to be more effective by some users.<ref name=toms />
A simpler but slower process involves merely exposing the yellowed plastic to bright sunlight.<ref>{{cite web | last=Farquhar | first=Dave | date=June 22, 2020 | url=https://dfarq.homeip.net/retrobright-with-sunlight-and-no-chemicals/ | title=Retrobright with sunlight and no chemicals | work=The Silicon Underground | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422100850/https://dfarq.homeip.net/retrobright-with-sunlight-and-no-chemicals/ | archivedate=April 22, 2026}}</ref>
== Effectiveness ==
The long-term effectiveness of these techniques is unclear. Some have discovered the yellowing reappears, and there are concerns that the process weakens and only bleaches the already damaged plastic.<ref name=ftl />{{rp|270}}<ref>{{cite book | last=Farrell | first=Greg | date=2020 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Game_Boy_Modding/yCikDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22retrobright%22&pg=PA51&printsec=frontcover | title=Game Boy Modding: A Beginner's Guide to Game Boy Mods, Collecting, History, and More! | publisher=No Starch Press | page=51 | isbn=9781718500150 | via=Google Books}}</ref> For example, in a 10-year study conducted by Shelby Jueden of the YouTube channel Tech Tangents, a yellowed Dreamcast case (manufactured around 1999) received the standard retrobright treatment of hydrogen peroxide and UV light in 2015. Instead of retrobrighting all surfaces of the case, Jueden covered up portions of the bottom half with tape so that they did not receive any hydrogen peroxide and UV. Upon re-evaluating the case in 2025, Jueden observed that the treated surfaces exhibited significant yellowing, as well as other blemishes such as streaking and blotching, that the untreated surfaces lacked. Jueden concluded that untreated ABS maintains better color consistency over time. He also concluded that retrobrighting acts only as a temporary fix and that all methods may cause irreversible damage to the appearance of ABS plastic.<ref name=toms>{{cite web | last=Morales | first=Jowi | date=December 6, 2025 | url=https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/retro-gaming/a-10-year-study-indicates-that-treated-surfaces-turn-yellow-more-severely-than-untreated-plastic-parts-retrobrighting-does-more-harm-than-good-to-consoles | title=A 10-year study indicates that treated surfaces turn yellow more severely than untreated plastic parts – retrobrighting does more harm than good to consoles | work=Tom's Hardware | publisher=Future Publishing | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260115201509/https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/retro-gaming/a-10-year-study-indicates-that-treated-surfaces-turn-yellow-more-severely-than-untreated-plastic-parts-retrobrighting-does-more-harm-than-good-to-consoles | archivedate=January 15, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=McFerran | first=Damien | date=December 8, 2025 | url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/12/retrobrighting-might-actually-cause-more-harm-than-good-to-your-yellowing-consoles | title='Retrobrighting' Might Actually Cause More Harm Than Good to Your Yellowing Consoles | work=Time Extension | publisher=Hookshot Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310134319/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/12/retrobrighting-might-actually-cause-more-harm-than-good-to-your-yellowing-consoles | archivedate=March 10, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Noorali | first=Rahim Amir | date=December 10, 2025 | url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/A-recent-Sega-Dreamcast-test-shows-why-you-should-stop-retrobrighting-your-old-game-consoles.1182727.0.html | title=A recent Sega Dreamcast test shows why you should stop retrobrighting your old game consoles | work=Notebookcheck | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260311111018/https://www.notebookcheck.net/A-recent-Sega-Dreamcast-test-shows-why-you-should-stop-retrobrighting-your-old-game-consoles.1182727.0.html | archivedate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
== Similar processes ==
The usage has also expanded to other restoration applications, such as classic and collectible sneakers and collectible toys.<ref name=com /><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Staff writer | date=March 9, 2016 | id={{ProQuest|1771314823}} | title=Calling all sneakerheads: How to keep your white kicks pristinely white | work=Daily Times | location=Lahore | publisher=HT Media}}</ref>
== See also == * Beige box * Photodegradation
== References ==
{{refs}}
{{Portal bar|Chemistry|1980s|1990s}}
Category:Cleaning products Category:Plastics Category:Hacker culture