Sympatex

I'd like respond to Joe Landry's query about the effectiveness of
Sympatex as an alternative to Gore-Tex for humidification. We have
used both products in the Library Conservation Unit at the University
of Dundee and have found Sympatex to perform well in comparison.
Water vapour penetrates through the Sympatex slightly faster than
through Gore-Tex, and the membrane take on an 'orange peel' texture,
but we have had no adverse effects from this on the objects we have
treated. The main disadvantage is that the Sympatex is less
durable; the material is lighter and the membrane more easily damaged
by creasing or snagging. It is almost impossible to see this damage
when the material is  dry, but it is very obvious once wetted.
These observations have been made by conservators working in the
studio, and we do not necessarily endorse either product.

Vanessa Charles
Assistant Conservator
Dundee University Library
DD14HN
Conservation Assistant

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:88
                    Distributed: Friday, May 1, 1998
                       Message Id: cdl-11-88-004
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