High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Oxidation film on compression driver diaphragms

70.26.44.214

Miab

Hi
I have a couple drivers with a slight oxidation on the aluminum diaphragms and was wondering if you could please suggest a cleaning method? I was planning to use a fluid of some type with either q tips or small painter's brush. Or perhaps do you think that I should leave it alone as it will no longer get worse? I do believe the drivers were either in a high humidity or slightly wet environment.

Follow Ups:

Agree with welter - badman 16:06:00 03/26/12 (0)
Leave 'em be, you won't ever hear it.

Bass is supposed to sound big. 6.5" is not a woofer size.
RE: Oxidation film on compression driver diaphragms - weltersys 08:53:26 03/25/12 (2)
The oxide has some weight from the material it came from.
If it is not flaking off, leave it be, no need to change the drivers parameters.
- RE: Oxidation film on compression driver diaphragms - Miab 11:28:35 03/25/12 (1)
  It is not so much a flaking but more a film of spotty discoloration. I was more trying to arrest the oxidation process. Do you think now that the drivers are in a more dry environment (my home) that the oxidation has stopped?
  
  Thanks in advance.
  - RE: Oxidation film on compression driver diaphragms - weltersys 09:50:37 03/26/12 (0)
    As the Neil Young song says, "rust never sleeps", but it slows down to a crawl in dry environments. The diaphragm probably is about as oxidized now as it will get. A thin oxide layer seems to prevent further oxidization of aluminum.
    Aluminum is "dirty", as soon as it is cleaned more oxide develops, which is why it generally is not used for cooking. Fortunately, a bit of oxide does not hurt sound quality.
    
    As an aside, the horns in stage monitors make good funnels, add some beer to a titanium diaphragm with an aluminum back cover and iron top plate (JBL 2445 driver) and interesting science fair crystals start to grow- those definitely needed to be cleaned to return the diaphragm to decent sounding status again ;^).
    
    Art

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