"Unknown Substance"

[nobarcode]

Does anyone know a chemist, with access to a lab, in or around Az., that could help me determine what this stuff is?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/nobarcode/Fibermaterialcopysm.jpg
It is not Calcium deposites.

[jimkopelli]

What is it on? What kind of scale it it? More piccys, more info.

[mgb]

I hope that isn't your skin.

[nobarcode]

It was found collected in cooler areas of my concrete driveway where condensation had formed, in the morning. I think the stuff was airborne at one point and was collected by the water droplets on the ground.

It's a fibrous material that forms a "matrix", sort of. Every piece of fiber is straight and approx. 1-2mm in length. It appears synthetic.

I think I know what it is; I just need to prove it, but don't have the equipment. I kept sample of it. Local envirnmental labs won't look at it and the University's Chemistry department has not yet responded to my emails.

I know the picture doesn't show much, but I don't have a camera capable of showing what it really looks like.

It's not a mold either.

[TraditionalNonconformist]

what does it taste like?

[nobarcode]

I'll send you a batch of it, but I'M not going to use it in any recipes.

[mgb]

So what do you think it is?

[jyakulis]

try snorting it

[nobarcode]

So what do you think it is?
Barium hydroxide

[SensEye]

Efflorescence perhaps?

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepair/efflorescence.htm

[nobarcode]

Efflorescence is the best guess, but that's not what it is. I do have calcium deposits in other places around my house as Az. has hard water and we use automatic irrigation frequently. This stuff is fibrous, not crystalline.

Regardless, if there is anyone out there that would like to test it or knows of someone who would test it, PM me.

[mgb]

If it is barium hydroxide the melting point is 78 degrees celcius. With a good thermometer you should be able to test it yourself.

[nobarcode]

I've done that already and it passes.

What's more interesting is it's boiling point and...........

What the HELL is it doing in my driveway?

[mgb]

Here is what they use it for:

APPLICATIONS
Barium hydroxide is used as an additive in thermoplastics (such as phenolic resins), rayons and PVC stabilizers to imporve plastic properties. This material is used as a general purpose additive for lubricants and greases. Other industrial applications for barium hydroxide include sugar fabrication, manufacturing soaps, fat saponification, fusing of silicates and chemical synthesis of other barium compounds and organic compounds.

Anything nearby?

[mgb]

Is it water soluble?

[wezl]

I've seen that before. It's RNA that settled in after drifting through space for a few gillion years. Feed it yogurt and it will evolve into a mammal.

[Claverhouse]

I've done that already and it passes.

What's more interesting is it's boiling point and...........

What the HELL is it doing in my driveway?
[ Delicately ]


Would you like to discuss your relationships with your various neighbours ?



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[indie]

Perhaps aliens have landed in your driveway?

[Edmond Zedo]

That looks like the reagent I need to cast Dimension Door. Can I have some?

[QrioCT]

what did u do with it? id understand if u left the thing there out of not wanting to touch it but...ur neighbor's dog might come and eat it. wel at least then you'd know if its toxic. ;)

[Shai Gar]

what does it taste like?
comedy genius

[nobarcode]

mgbradsh:
"So what was the stuff on your driveway?" (from a different (unrelated) thread.)

I don't know for sure.

[Shai Gar]

cocaine?

[Phenylethylene]

Hmm... I stumbled upon a message board where people were talking about "chemtrails" (chemical trails released by planes) a few months ago. Not being familiar with the term, I did a little Googling and found that there is something of a conspiracy theory regarding them. I didn't see substantial and unbiased proof, and I have a basic familiarity with contrails (my father was fond of plane photos), so I disregarded it.

It seems that I may now have cause to reexamine the issue. Being an INTP, I am reluctant to state what seems obvious, but Barium (said to be a chemtrail ingredient) + Water = Barium Hydroxide. Perhaps Googling some information on chemtrails in AZ would be helpful.

...
Or did you know this already?

[indie]

Is there any construction going on near your house? It could possibly be airborne from a local construction site . . .

[nobarcode]

...
Or did you know this already?

All I can say is that I have fairly good documentation at this point.