10-Year Study: Retrobrighting May Permanently Damage Console Plastic
A decade-long experiment on a Dreamcast suggests the popular restoration method causes worse yellowing over time.
A landmark 10-year study has delivered a sobering verdict for retro hardware enthusiasts: the popular 'retrobrighting' method for restoring yellowed plastic may cause more long-term harm than good. The findings, reported by Time Extension, come from YouTuber Shelby Jueden of the Tech Tangents channel, who has been monitoring a partially-treated Sega Dreamcast since 2015.
Jueden's experiment began with a typical retrobrighting process on sections of a yellowed Dreamcast shell, using hydrogen peroxide and UV light to reverse the discolouration. The console was then left on a shelf for a decade. The shocking result? The treated plastic has not only re-yellowed but has done so more severely than the original, untreated sections. The process also left permanent cosmetic damage in the form of streaks and blotches.
📊 The Retrobrighting Reality Check- Method: Hydrogen peroxide + UV light treatment.- Test Subject: Sega Dreamcast console shell.- Timeline: Treated in 2015, reviewed after 10 years.- Result: Treated plastic is now more yellow and shows surface damage.
The Science of Yellowing and 'Restoration'
The yellowing of classic consoles like the SNES, NES, and Dreamcast is a well-known ageing process. It's caused by the oxidation of bromine-based fire-retardant chemicals within the plastic. Retrobrighting aims to reverse this by using UV light to break down the oxidised molecules, with hydrogen peroxide helping to bleach the colour. The short-term results can be dramatic, but Jueden's long-term study suggests the process weakens the plastic's structure, making it even more susceptible to future yellowing. A full report is also available from Tom's Hardware.
A Community Rethinks Preservation
The findings have prompted a major rethink among collectors and journalists. Jueden himself stated he will no longer use the method on his hardware. Time Extension's Damien McFerran echoed the sentiment, saying he'd follow suit. For Dreamcast owners, who are already seeking ways to preserve their beloved hardware-from new game ports like the unofficial *Star Fox 64* conversion to modern accessories-this news shifts the preservation conversation. The focus may now turn more towards preventative protection and accepting a console's natural patina, rather than aggressive chemical restoration.
So, what's a collector to do with a yellowed console? The community is likely to pivot towards more conservative options: keeping hardware out of direct sunlight, in stable environments, and using high-quality protective cases to slow the ageing process from the start. Sometimes, the best restoration is no restoration at all. The Dreamcast in this study now tells a story not just of the late '90s, but of a 10-year experiment that might have changed retro preservation forever.
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