G3 Sticky Pinkie Pie

[ninastoyshelf]

I noticed this pinkie pie is sticky and shiny, I think her plastic is degrading. Is there anything I can do to stop this? Will it get worse?

 

[minticat]

there is no known way to stop plasticizer leakage currently. the best you can do is wash her every time she gets sticky until it's all leached out. it's also advisable to keep her away from your other ponies during this process.

 

[ninastoyshelf]

Can it spread to other ponies if they’re near her?? Will it get worse too?

 

[minticat]

Can it spread to other ponies if they’re near her?? Will it get worse too?

i've seen a rumor passed around in the MLP community for a long time that a leaking pony can trigger the plasticizer to leak in others if they come into physical contact with it, but i'm not sure of the credibility of said rumor. i do it just to err on the side of caution though, since it doesn't hurt.

basically, she'll keep being sticky until all the plasticizer has leaked out. she'll be rock hard afterwards.

 

[ninastoyshelf]

That’s crazy, wow. I’ve been a toy collector for 5 years and I never knew that. What even is the plasticizer anyway? And what do you mean rock hard?

 

[minticat]

That’s crazy, wow. I’ve been a toy collector for 5 years and I never knew that. What even is the plasticizer anyway? And what do you mean rock hard?

plasticizer is a chemical added into PVC which makes it soft and malleable - so if you've got a squishy pony, plasticizer is what causes that. once it starts to degrade, it separates from the PVC and leaks out, hence the stickiness. so without the chemical making the PVC soft, it turns super hard.

 

[ninastoyshelf]

Wow! I’m sure it happens with dolls then too. I’m a doll collector as well and I’ve noticed it with a few of mine. Does the plastic still keep breaking down after that?

 

[minticat]

Wow! I’m sure it happens with dolls then too. I’m a doll collector as well and I’ve noticed it with a few of mine. Does the plastic still keep breaking down after that?

i know it happens with old barbies from a book i read on the topic once, but i'm not a doll collector so i can't vouch for it happening in other doll lines. i don't think it keeps breaking down once it leaches all out, since there's no more of it left in the PVC, but the PVC itself might be left brittle afterwards so caution is advisable. this article goes into the topic if you're a nerd like me and are interested in the science of it.

 

[ninastoyshelf]

Thanks for sending that article, I’ll have to take a look. I always have that worry of things breaking down because of agethank you for clarifying everything!

 

[Septima Windsong]

Not exactly pony-relared, but I know some Breyer horses can suffer from this. I also have a childhood LEGO car which tyres became hard and sticky. Unfortunately I don't know how to stop or slow down this process