Re: "Condensation" in plastic

["Mary W. Ballard" <BallardM@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jerry--If the plastic is free from additives, the textiles are conditioned (temperature and humidity), are not susceptible to static charge under those conditions, are stable (right isoelectric point, etc), the textile is supported, the temperature and humidity levels outside the plastic container will be maintained at the same as inside the plastic container (no transfer from one site to another--no thermal changes from light/infrared) and the time is short-term, it is a reasonable way to go. 
Of course, people rarely want (or are able) to review the plastics or conditioning in the depth required. There is a great deal of information where economics has propelled industry to have such matters reviewed thoroughly, like the food industry. Next time you eat potato chips (crisps) from a bag...think of how many chemists and labs have gone into formulating the properties and components of the container and into specifying the moisture content of the potatoes, etc and then all the regulations (federal agencies) involved to establish the standards and see that they are maintained--and those little bags are dated--with a time limit. Do you know your materials and conditions well enough to establish an expiration date? Are your sources as carefully vetted as those for the potato chips? Are your warehouse conditions/intermediate and final storage vetted and monitored? Are your legal (or fiduciary) responsibilities carefully limited within the boundaries established by your lab!
oratory's research and confirmed by the standards on record?  Best wishes, Mary

>>> keepsafe@xxxxxxxxxxxx 11/01/00 05:50PM >>>
Mary,

I know conservators have a lot in common with doctors (and lawyers, sorry). 
They can't just give out general advice without knowing the specifics. That 
understood (and leaving references to gloriously tanned bread loaves 
aside), do you think a carefully folded textile in a "normal" home or 
museum environment is in any danger if enclosed in a (safe) plastic envelope?

It is, I know, a dangerously general question. It would help to know if the 
envelope is sealed or open, is the air "treated", what are the vapour 
transmission characteristics of the plastic, what are the surface 
characteristics, does it offgas? etc. BUT, I'm looking for a general 
attitude. I'm hoping to create a crack in the hocus-pocus and old wives' 
tales that talk of breathing textiles. Maybe I'm wrong.

Do you see a danger in storing textiles in plastics if "properly" approached?

js
Jerry Shiner
Object & Textile Conservation Services Ltd.   O/A
Keepsafe Systems & Forever Yours Gown Bridal Preservation
Visit www.gowncare.com