Tyvek

I spoke today with the Tyvek department of Dupont about prices. Very
helpful, they are, too:  Clarence Lanier, Packaging, 800-334-0639 is the
guy you want: ask for spec booklet on the various Tyveks, and sample of
1422 A, 1422 R, and 1073 D.  (shhhh: if you are doing intensive new
application testing, you might get a 50' sample...but please don't abuse
the possibility.)

According to the lady I spoke to, Tyvek 1422"R" is corona treated
(electrically) to take printing inks; "A" is the non-corona treated
version. (The spec booklet gives thorough info, but a trusted colleague
lifted mine!) I 'm not sure what difference it makes; both have some
processing chemicals such as anti-stats, but since they are not used in
direct contact with objects for any length of time, I don't think it's a
problem.

I use 1073 D to cut up to make labels to tie to artifacts during
treatment or going into leaky storage rooms.

The 1422 is a dream for temporary covers over objects left out on
worktables (of course you cover collections materials when you go to
lunch or at night...don't you?  If you don't, then don't let me try to
convince you: Murphy's Law says the ceiling will leak on YOUR stuff, not
mine, because mine is covered  ::simpering smugly::).

1422 also makes nice temporary wraps because it is soft and extremely
smooth, so it doesn't catch on flaky surfaces.

1322, the perforated version, makes a poor-man's Gore-Tex for
humidification treatments.

A roll is 60" x ~ 2100 yd (the roll is sold by diameter, and length may
vary from 1800-2100 yards, but I _believe_ cost is still by yard.  The
cost is approx. 70 c yd (42 c sq. yd.).

Transilwrap, or manufacturers of disposable clothing may sell smaller
quantities if you appeal to them right.  Obviously the cheapest and
easiest way is for several institutions to buy a roll together, if the
bureaucracy is willing to cooperate.

Our contest for this month is for the most creative use of Tyvek; please
send your contest entries, labelled "Tyvek Submission"  directly to me
at my EMail address below, so that Walter doesn't skin me alive for
messing up the DistList. The top 10 will be posted.

I will forward the ideas to Clarence Lanier, in the hope that he can
help us find an easier way to buy in smaller quantities.  hmmm, maybe
University Products....?

Lisa Mibach

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 6:38
                 Distributed: Tuesday, January 19, 1993
                        Message Id: cdl-6-38-003
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