Vacuum packaging

Dale Peters <petersd<-a t->shepfs2< . >und< . >ac< . >za>  writes that

>the use of vacuum packaging for archival
>storage in the Cameroons...takes little cogniscance of the
>moisture content of the materials ...

The plan is to bag when as cool as possible (low air absolute
moisture content), hoping that as room temperature rises, the RH in
the bag can only fall below mould problem levels. (but I will think
about the remarks of Graeme Scott <annk<-a t->xs4all< . >nl>)

>A further consideration is whether a simple paper or card wrapper
>would not provide and additional buffer,

The termites would have them, I expect. I also hope that a plastic
bag will be more impenetrable to new deposits of mould spores.

However, thank you to Dale Peters re her remarks on slowing the
autocatalytic oxidative degradation which I clearly must follow up,
and thank you to Jerry Shiner--Oxygen Scavengers sound like an
excellent idea to follow up as they require no specialised
equipment.

Obviously, in a sealed bag, emissions from the objects cannot really
escape, but with planning rate of air change for any enclosure there
is always a trade off between letting stuff out and letting stuff
in. At present I believe the stuff outside is nastier!

Mark Clarke
London
+44 941 101 251

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:77
                   Distributed: Monday, March 3, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-77-007
                                  ***