Questionnaire on Tyvek

As an MA student in the Books Conservation Programme at West Dean
College, I am researching the uses of Tyvek (or any similar nonwoven
polyethylene/polypropylenes) in the conservation of books and
library materials. After much research and personal communications,
it appears to me that while many conservators seem to be using Tyvek
in their workshops, only a handful of articles recommending its use
have been published. It is my feeling that many conservators will
have insight to add to a volume of work devoted to this topic, and
for this reason I am sending out this questionnaire.  A significant
portion of my project depends on input and feedback from
conservators in practice. The findings of my research will be
written and made available to all who contribute.

While book conservation is my emphasis, I am also interested in
knowing how Tyvek is being used in all branches of cultural heritage
conservation. I am writing to ask for your help by filling out the
following questionnaire in a timely manner and returning it to me. I
am seeking for feedback from both conservators who are and are not
using Tyvek. Your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Basic background on Tyvek

Tyvek is a spunbonded olefine or nonwoven polyethylene,
polypropylene, or a combination of the two. It is typically white,
opaque, shiny, smooth, flexible and very strong. It is impermeable
to water but not to water vapor, and commercial industries use it as
a moisture barrier in building construction, as well as for
protective clothing, CD sleeves, mailing envelopes, and other
packaging or protective coverings.

Tyvek has different characteristics than other nonwoven polyesters
such as Reemay, Hollytex, and Bondina, which are loose polyester
webs compared to the dense polyethylene structure of Tyvek. The two
materials will therefore be used by conservators in different ways
from each other. While I am also interested in how Reemay-like
materials are used in your conservation lab, I ask in particular for
information on Tyvek, and for clarification as to which one you are
using when filling out the survey. The more details you can offer,
the greater help it will be to me.

For simplicity and consistency in the survey I will use the term
Tyvek, but ask you to consider all similar nonwovens of various
names (i.e. Archivek, spunbonded polyethylene, etc).

Questionnaire, Part One:

Are you using or have you ever used Tyvek in conservation?

If you answered no to the above question, why have you chosen not to
use Tyvek?

If you answered yes, why have you chosen to use Tyvek?

Have you heard of Tyvek being used by other conservators, and how
were they using it? (Specific names of conservators or institutions
would be useful).

If you are aware of anyone in conservation/museums who is using or
has used Tyvek, and would you be able and willing to share their
contact information?

In personal communications with conservators, they have indicated to
me that a conservator should beware that not all Tyvek is
conservation approved.

Have you done any research as to its inertness/longevity or are you
aware of any testing of the material that has been done?

Are you aware of any makes or grades of Tyvek that are favored or
approved as a conservation-safe material?

If you are not using Tyvek, the survey ends here for you! Thank you
for your participation.  If you have used Tyvek, please answer the
following questions as well.

How have you used Tyvek in conservation? (Please list all ways you
have used it, and if you are willing, details of your methodology)

For the treatments you have mentioned, have you observed any
advantages over other more traditional materials, and what material
would you have used if you hadn't used Tyvek (what material/s is the
Tyvek replacing?)

Were you pleased or displeased with your results, and would you
recommend the treatment to other conservators?

Suppliers: Where have you obtained Tyvek? What types/grades/weights
have you used?

Have you ever heard of Tyvek being used as a covering material for
limp-book structures?

Coloring: Have you colored or printed on Tyvek? What did you try and
what were your results?

Anything I have missed anything regarding Tyvek as a conservation
material that you would like to share?

Adhesion: It seems that a particular issue in using Tyvek has been
adhesion issues.

Have you experimented with adhesives and Tyvek?

What adhesives have you tried, what was your method for application,
and what were your results?

Part Two: Acknowledgements

May I use the information you have shared in my dissertation?

Do you have any photographic examples that are willing to share, and
may I use them in my written dissertation?

If I find your information to be helpful or if I need further
clarification, may I contact you in the future? How would you prefer
to be contacted (i.e. email or phone)?

Would you like me to send a copy of my dissertation when I have
completed the research project?

You have reached the end of the survey. Thank you very much for
taking the time to help. Please send this completed survey to

    Lili Hall <lilihall<-a t->gmail< . >com>

Also, please feel free to forward the survey to anyone you know that
may be interested in contributing to this research topic.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:5
                  Distributed: Thursday, July 17, 2008
                        Message Id: cdl-22-5-023
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