I bought an aluminum chainmail bracelet that did not stink until I washed my hands and got it wet. The smell won't go away and it looks a bit dingy. I get nauseous anytime it's near my head. Anything I can get from the hardware store to coat it for luster and that resists smell from being wet?
Believe it or not, aluminum is a very reactive metal. In its normally encountered, dry form, aluminum reacts with the oxygen in the air to form aluminum oxide, which coats the metal and protects it from further reaction for the majority of household purposes. However, putting aluminum into water causes this oxide layer to be destroyed, allowing the aluminum metal to once again become reactive. From that point it may react with a host of other chemicals from acids to bases, forming different aluminum salts and gases that may be smelly, or catalyzing chemical reactions that too can stink. For an example of how reactive aluminum is compared to aluminum oxide, get some household lye (NaOH) pellets, some water and a piece of aluminum foil. Place some lye on top of the aluminum foil, and add a little bit of water. At first, it will appear as if nothing is happening - at this time however the water is destroying the aluminum oxide layer. When enough of the oxide layer is penetrated (usually within 30 seconds to a minute), the NaOH proceeds to react with the aluminum metal to release hydrogen gas. This reaction quite literally eats through the metal. Be careful when doing this experiment as NaOH is caustic and hydrogen gas is flammable.
This is most likely from the oxidation of the Aluminum. Something like this.... 2Al+3H2O===Al2O3+3H2 But if you are getting nauseous, it is very likely your aluminum may be tainted by some other substance. Please, describe the smell?
To answer the part about what to do, I would first clean it well. You can buy some aluminum polish in either hardware stores or automotive stores. That will probably help clean off the oxidation. Then, take some rubbing alcohol and, while wearing gloves, clean off all the residue left by the polish. You wan the metal to be very clean. You can then take a spray can of clear coat (found in most hardware store paint sections) and give it a light coating of clear. This will lock the aluminum in and keep it from reacting. This is what is done for most aluminum alloy wheels. Just make sure to make light coats so that the coverage is even.
