===== Original Message From "arider" arider@bellsouth.net =====
After crawling through many attics and basements as a general contractor for
over 30 years........where usually older folks (like me now) have their
clothes and other things stored in moth balls......explain to me if you can,
why you can't smell the moth balls when that is the whole idea to deter the
moths?? Is it because the diesel is a stronger smell? :)
Bob,
I don't know the exact chemistry involved but have a few thoughts on the
possiblities. First, as mothballs (napthalene) sublimates (goes from a solid
to a gas) it may not be the distinctive smell of napthalene that repels moths
but the chemistry of the napthalene gas.
When Rob says "you don't actually smell the moth balls but they take away the
other smells," it could be that the napthalene gas is combining/reacting with
the evaporative state of the diesel fuel to form a less odorous residual gas.
It sounds interesting, and I may try a little experiment with it myself. I
would caution though, that you're adding another chemical to and perhaps
creating new unknown chemicals in the air you breathe on your boat. Make sure
adequate ventilation is provided.
Regards,
Mel Knott
Sandpiper
West Indian 36
Annapolis, MD
>===== Original Message From "arider" <arider@bellsouth.net> =====
>After crawling through many attics and basements as a general contractor for
>over 30 years........where usually older folks (like me now) have their
>clothes and other things stored in moth balls......explain to me if you can,
>why you can't smell the moth balls when that is the whole idea to deter the
>moths?? Is it because the diesel is a stronger smell? :)
>
Bob,
I don't know the exact chemistry involved but have a few thoughts on the
possiblities. First, as mothballs (napthalene) sublimates (goes from a solid
to a gas) it may not be the distinctive smell of napthalene that repels moths
but the chemistry of the napthalene gas.
When Rob says "you don't actually smell the moth balls but they take away the
other smells," it could be that the napthalene gas is combining/reacting with
the evaporative state of the diesel fuel to form a less odorous residual gas.
It sounds interesting, and I may try a little experiment with it myself. I
would caution though, that you're adding another chemical to and perhaps
creating new unknown chemicals in the air you breathe on your boat. Make sure
adequate ventilation is provided.
Regards,
Mel Knott
Sandpiper
West Indian 36
Annapolis, MD
