Mold

Bob Muens describes succinctly a problem familiar in the sub-tropics
of the southeast African coast. Certainly, his advice to private
clients is perfectly sound: ventilation and a good vacuum cleaner
are the basics.

Within the institution, we rely on a few extra tricks, including
small storage areas, in which a mobile dehumidifier can be
effective, down to microenvironments in protective enclosures, with
particular attention to design and choice of materials to avoid
autocatalytic degradation.  Of limited application is the
additional practice of applying a disposable liner to storage
containers, shelves and picture frames, comprising an absorbent
sheet 120g or more,  impregnated with  fungicide, which serves to
retard mould growth and to buffer the microclimate.

Active mould will only develop where the moisture content of the
substrate remains high for a few days--as it does now at the height
of summer.   We have a few extra portable ventilators on
standby--and the value of additional ventilation is indisputable,
even in the airconditioned storage areas.

You will find additional information published by Graeme Scott of
the Australian National Museum in :

    Scott, G. "Moisture, ventilation and mould growth"
    in Roy, A. and Smith, P.
    Preventive conservation: practice, theory and research. London:
    IIC, 1994. p149-153.

In empathy,

Dale Peters
Paper Conservator
Campbell Collections of the University of Natal
220 Marriott Road
Durban 4001
South Africa
+27 31 260 2306
Fax: +27 31 291 622

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:72
                Distributed: Thursday, February 13, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-72-003
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