Re: Materials for storage

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

Anna: 1) A HTpolyester  (high tenacity) should not have the problems of "creep" or sagging ("sacking") over time that you are concerned about. You can ask for specifications; you would want to make sure that the fiber is "hardened" to reduce elasticity--and that your frame is strong enough not to bend under the tension. One old idea comes from airplanes: On the Wright Flyer airplane tension was maintained with cotton by putting it on the bias--this allowed for stretching without deformation of the wood frame. Perhaps a structural engineer could help you. 2) Silk might be substituted for acid free paper as an interlayer/dust cover. It would be compatible and moisture-buffering, as well as lightweight. The more cellulosic or silk you have in your interior environment, the better the relative humdity can be maintained through winter months. Best wishes, Mary Ballard

ps There was a paper "Fabric selection and its Relationship to Dimensional Changes in Support Systems for Constrained Fabric Mounting Devices" by S. Collins, M. Mecklenberg, M. Ballard  included in papers at both the Harpers Ferry (1990) Conference and in the So Many Countries so many customs: different approaches to textile conservation (1996) If you do not have access and would like a copy (or other disc list participants) please email me privately at ballardm@xxxxxxxxxxxx I can mail you a copy.

Anna Javer.....
Then we have decided to use frames in a "baking-tray" system which will 
support our often large and very fragile textiles (read: pre-columbian 
textiles or Indonesian barkcloth).

This last system is what I would like to have input and views on 
especially your thought on materials.  The frame will be of aluminum 
because we want it to be light in weight. The supportive material in 
the frame is what we have not decided on what to use. The criteria for 
it is to be light-weight, supportive, and inert. 

We have discussed using a streched polyester weave, secured 
mechanically as has been used in The Art Institute of Chicago and at 
American Natural History Museum but are worried that it will "sack" 
over time. We have also discussed using Correx (polyethylen)sheets but 
are worried about the static electricity that comes with it. Then as a 
third alternative is paper, such as corrugated cardboard or honeycomb. 
The worry here is that it's hard to find acid-free cardboard that is 
not buffered and we do have a lot of fragile protein fibres in our 
collection.