>>3344624>>3344422https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/preserving-plastic-art-spacesuits-science/Plastic is infamous for its lack of longevity. It weakens over time as it leaks plasticiser and the polymer chains break down, becoming naturally more brittle, fragile, warping, leaking fluid and even outgassing. Even if you manage to clean up the exterior, gas and liquid from the decaying plastics will find their way inside the lens, maybe even the elements themselves will degrade if they’re not actual glass, even worse different types of plastic rubbing together can create unforeseen chemical reactions over time - in as little as ten years one of your favourite very expensive lenses of today might be on its last legs while lenses made in the 60’s and 70’s of stainless steel, brass and aluminium just keep on trucking.
