Polystyrene packaging

Anna Morgan of the Guinness Archives (what a great place to work, if
it's the same Guinness that I'm thinking of!) inquired about leaving
glass and crockery objects in conformal polystyrene packaging.
Polystyrene is inert and will not have any harmful effects on glass
and ceramic materials.  Given the researchers' requirements and the
space constraints, it makes sense to retain the original packaging.
I would suggest definitely confirming whether or not each of the
supports are indeed polystyrene and not some other material such as
polyurethane foam, which will deteriorate and can stick to many
surfaces and cause discoloration.  I would suggest contacting a
local professional conservator for advice on how to do quick plastic
characterization tests, or contact me off-list.

Paul S. Storch
Objects Conservator
John and Martha Daniels Objects Conservation Laboratory (JMD-OCL)
B-109.1, Minnesota History Center
345 Kellogg Blvd West
St. Paul, MN  55102-1906
612-297-5774
Fax: 612-297-2967

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:46
               Distributed: Wednesday, November 19, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-46-007
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