storage product guide

Guide to storage products

digital museum of collecting

Collecting:
photograph
playing card
ATCs
matchbook
trading card
postcard
comic book

Products:
toploaders
pocket pages
soft sleeves
matchbook pages
deck protectors

People:
artist card makers
auction sellers
vendors
stores
fabricators
artists

Brands:
BCW
Clear File
E. Gerber
Ultra-Pro
University Prod.

"Archival quality" generally describes products and materials that are safe for long-term storage and display of paper and collectibles. Art conservation specialists, museum professionals and product suppliers use the following standards and definitions for storage products.

The best-quality plastic storage products use a special type of polyester film, commonly called Mylar, or "archival polyester". You can also store paper collectibles and documents in less expensive "Poly" storage products. This term often refers to polypropylene "PP" (recycling category #5). Poly is also used to describe polyethylene (PE) used to make water bottles. A list of storage product brand names identifies the companies that make mylar and poly products.

. . . . . . .

go to:
   plastics glossary
   . cellophane
   . mylar
   .  polyethylene
   . polypropylene
   . vinyl
   . references

see also:

• brand name
  products guide

Mylar is crystal-clear, very strong, and performs far better than other types of plastic as a barrier against dust, pollution, water vapor and oily fingers. The Library of Congress will use only polyester products (such as Mylar) that "must not contain any plasticizer, surface coatings, UV inhibitors, or absorbents, and be guaranteed to be non-yellowing with natural aging.

Thick, 4-5 mil. mylar storage products are the best for long-term storage of a valuable collection. Economical, 1-2 mil. mylar is used to best display game cards, matchbook covers.

Low Density Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (LDPE) are less expensive than mylar. Storage products made from polypropylene are strong, non-yellowing and less prone to scratching. Clear polyethylene is the least expensive material, acceptable for short-term storage of collectables.

Avoid direct contact between your collection and any products that contain PVC - commonly known as Vinyl - used in some erasers, 3-ring binders, bubble wrap and adhesive tapes. The ink from artwork and photocopies can 'transfer' onto the surface of (for example) the inside pocket of a vinyl 3-ring binder.

Most important - keep paper and collectibles out of direct sunlight or in an acid-free box. Avoid keeping your collection in the basement or attic where humidity, insects and extreme temperatures can cause damage.

Plastics Glossary

Products for storage and conservation of paper

cellophane - Invented by a Swiss chemist in 1900 by disolving cellulose (tree bark, etc.) to make a thin, transparent sheet that does not absorb water, oil or grease and keeps an air-tight seal.

crystal-clear
organic based alternative to polypropylene
many sizes
brittle
grease, oil & moisture resistant
approved for food use
heat sealable

polyester - any of a group of polymers that consist of repeated units of an ester, used especially in making fibers and sheets of plastic film.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
called (PETE) in Europe, one form of polyester that can be completely recycled into thousands of new products (refer to the "chasing arrows" logo #1).

Uses: soda bottles, leisure suits, x-ray film, video tape and packaging. Recycled into carpet and fiberfill insulation.

"Mylar D" and "Melinex 516" are trade names for a special way to make a crystal-clear and strong form of PET plastic, used for true archival-quality storage and conservation products. Mylar is "bi-axially extruded polyester film", which aligns the "chains" of molten plastic both vertically and horizontally, similar to the 'grain' in a sheet of paper.

Best plastic storage for a valuable collection.

long-term protection for paper (100 years).

Mandatory for archival conservation

Crystal clear and very strong

very effective barrier against air & moisture

resistant to grease, oil, heat, oxidation

chemically inert & non-yellowing

will not shrink - "dimensionally stable"

naturally UV resistant

Can be produced without harmful additives

generates static electricity which attracts dust

Mylar is more expensive than "Poly" products

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recycle #2 HDPE

high density polyethylene (HDPE)
- milky white or colored with pigments, waxy feeling.
- uses: milk cartons, photographic film canisters, cereal box liners, printed shopping bags

low density polyethylene (LDPE)
- Inexpensive plastic for short-term storage.
- Easy to blend & process
- low melting point
- more clarity than polypropylene, but -
- Least rigid material (very flexible)
- low tensile strength
- scratches easily (low hardness)
- uses: clear bags for dry cleaning, bread and frozen foods; squeeze bottles, insulation.

polypropylene (PP) polymers of propylene

Quality plastic storage products.
Lightweight but strong
non-yellowing
resistant to chemicals and heat
crisper than polyethylene (less flexible)
can be "oriented" (like mylar) for strength & stiffness
less static than mylar
less protection from air and moisture than mylar
The best storage products are made without adding vinyl (PVC), plasticizer, softeners or surface treatments.

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polystyrene (PS)

clear, hard and brittle
uses: Compact Disk "gem" cases, toys, house wares, and luggage. Foam cups, plates, egg cartons and insulation.
used for transparent trading card storage boxes

"vinyl" (V) also known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

used for short-term business document storage
good transparency (clarity)
chemical and weather resistant
scratch-proof
"all PVC polymers are degraded by light and heat, hydrogen chloride is eliminated and oxidation occurs"
retains water (8%)
"chemicals used to make this type of plastic can react with water vapor to form hydrochloric acid and quickly damage a paper collection."
Not suitable for archival storage purposes
uses: "leatherette" fabric, gloves, flying discs, carpet & flooring, plumbing, exterior siding, 3-ring binders, bubble wrap.
NOTE: avoid direct contact between silver and bubble wrap.

References:

Library of Congress for archival product Specifications, and a good FAQ about preservation of works of art on paper.

Caring for your Documents and Works of Art on Paper from The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works. HTML version in English, and in Spanish or download the colorful PDF file (Adobe Acrobat).

The American Plastics Council is a great source of information for "end-users" of plastic products, presented in simple language. Educational material includes the very informative Introduction to Plastics: Background Information for Teachers. Read the document in your browser window [HTML format] or download the large 1.9 MB [PDF format] for Adobe Acrobat. This illustrated document includes a chapter about "Common Plastic Resins Used in Packaging" with the best description of the 7 different plastics represented by the "chasing arrow" recycling symbols. Many other resources on the general history of plastics, a simple chart of plastic properties and applications, and a good historical article from Newsweek Magazine.

More history of plastics from the society of the plastics industry and technical definitions of plastic resins. Download small 11KB PDF files for each of the seven recycling symbols: (PET) (HDPE) (V) (LDPE) (PP) (PS) (OTHER)

Mylar® and Melinex® polyester film, only by DuPont Teijin Films. (go to Products and Technology tab and find Mylar in the left column . Compete technical data - "Celebrating 50 years")

A beautiful splash screen with dotsfrom NAPCOR, with specific information about PET and free samples.

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