Permanence of color photocopies

For Normandy Helmer regarding color photocopies:  No one knows how
they'll last.   The ANSI IT9-3 sub-committee on color materials is
trying to get color hardcopy manufacturers interested in helping to
produce permanence standards for such products and there is (slow)
growing interest.  From a theoretical point of view, the color pigments
should be very stable. The polymer binder is also claimed to be stable.
This polymer is at least similar (though probably the same) as the
polymer binder used in black- and-white electrophotography and has the
same weakness.  Certain plasticizers and solvents will cause the polymer
to soften -- the "PVC notebook" effect. (everyone must have seen the
effect of PVC covers and binders on photocopied notes -- the pages stick
to the plastic and when you peel them off, most of the text is attached
to the plastic sheet in reverse.  The largest case of this that I've
seen personally, welded 18 pages together!)

The conservative answer to your enquiry at this point is that no one
knows and therefore you should wait.  It is possible that some new
additives in the process may damage books, bindings, glues,.... also. At
the rate things are going, I would suggest asking again in about 5
years. :-)

-Doug

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 5:18
               Distributed: Wednesday, September 4, 1991
                        Message Id: cdl-5-18-006
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