Storing plastic

We have several hundred plastic tokens dating from about 1900 to
1985. Typically these are transport, credit, shop or advertising
tokens about 25mm diameter and 2-3mm thick. They are variously made
from vulcanite, cellulose nitrate (celluloid), cellulose acetate,
urea-formaldehyde thermosetting material, or polystyrene. Most are
stored in transparent plasticised pvc folders which of course are
not of archival quality. Furthermore, the PVC plasticisers might
adversely affect the tokens if they migrate from the pvc, especially
as and when the pvc starts to degrade, although there is currently
no evidence of such interaction. Does anyone have any
recommendations for an alternative storage solution whilst retaining
visual access to both sides of the tokens?

Colin Williamson
Plastics Historical Society and Token Corresponding Society


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:30
                 Distributed: Friday, December 1, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-20-30-016
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