Vinyl/ Plasticizer Reaction and MSC or VOLKS finishing Spray

Hi,

 

I am new to DD and am really excited about these dolls! But I have been a collector of vinyl dolls for decades and also worked as a vinyl doll designer for the collectible industry for many years. I am new to the sealants being used on DD like the VOLKS powder finishing spray and while I've used MSC on resin I haven't done so with Vinyl yet.

 

Vinyl can get shiny and sticky over time if a non compatible sealer or paint is used on it. This is because all vinyl contains something called Plasticizer. Plasticizer is a fluid that is locked into the vinyl formulation by the use of a binding agent. The plasticizer is what gives vinyl its flexibility.

 

If you use a sealer that is not designed to be used on vinyl, over time it can react and break down the binding agent, and the fluid component , the Plasticizer will start to migrate out of the doll and lay on the surface making it shiny and sometimes sticky.

 

Once the binding agent is broken down it can not be reinstated or repaired and the vinyl part/face will slowly leak out plasticizer and degrade over time and no matter how many times you clean it off more will leach out and make the doll sticky and shiny again.

 

Thats why its really important to use a sealer that is made to be safe with vinyl.

 

I know MSC is really made for hard Plastic and resin. So I sometimes wonder if over time it could degrade the binder and the dolls heads could start to get shiny and or sticky.

 

I know KRYLON sprays will do this to vinyl over time. Make sure if someone is doing a face up for your DD that they NEVER use krylon sealers.

 

I will be trying the Powder finishing spray uv cut from VOLKS soon.

 

My understanding was that this was formulated for the MSD's or resin dolls, but that people use it on DD and its is safe for DD and will not break down the binder and make the head sticky over time.

 

Does anyone have a dd that they sprayed with volks spray or msc years ago now? --It can take more than a year to start beraking down the vinyl --And if so have they gotten sticky or shiny over the years?

 

I have plenty of MSC , but am nervous about using that and am really wanting to know if anyone has had alot of experience with older DD dolls that have been sealed with MSC and Volks Finishing Spray?

I've used Volks spray on my girls, and my oldest is over two years old with no problems. Many others have used MSC as well, and many have girls that are several years older. I've never heard of a stickiness problem, so it's either nonexistent or very rare.

Thank You Jezrah! This is exactly what i was hoping to hear! I have plenty of MSC so will be able to use that! My first Volks DD head should arrive sometime next week and then I will need to decide if I want a MDD or a DDS as those are the two body options I am thinking about right now!

 

I am so glad the MSC will work.

 

I really appreciate your reply!

 

Kindly,

Tracey

I found that the new MSC Matt probably causes the vinyl to get sticky as well. But after removing faceup and applying baking soda the stickiness regressed. Not sure why but it seems to work. some people also said baby powder does the job.

MSC and Volks Zokeimura are the two go-to sprays for vinyl around here. My Agatha has spent a year with her current faceup sealed with MSC, and I think two years apiece with each of the two faceups before, also sealed with MSC.

 

Bit of trivia: Polymer clays like Sculpy, Fimo, and Kato are also vinyl derivatives, and MSC is one of the only sprays that doesn't get sticky on those clays post-bake. One of the others is Preserve Your Memories II, but it only comes in a "semi-matte"--great if you're going bonkers with the pearl-ex, but for regular faceups, not so much. XD