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Hello All
Sorry not to reply earlier to this string.
As some of you may know, I am a distributor of
Ageless products (as well as developing and marketing our microclimate control
devices)
I believe the basic chemical reaction in the
heating products (also known as Toe Warmers, etc.) is the same as for Ageless
oxygen absorbers. They do use oxygen in a chemical reaction to reduce iron.
Apparently, however, there are some differences in the chemical mix to increase
the heat output (the sodium thiosulfate, carbon, etc.) In short, though,
they will remove oxygen from a sealed
container.
I should point out a few concerns about using these
products to absorb oxygen:
A proper barrier bag should be used so that
the atmosphere inside the bag will remain at less than 0.5% (better still, 0.1%)
oxygen to provide an effective "kill" to all stages of insect life. This
concentration must be maintained for varying times, depending on insect type,
and ambient temperature. Typically, at least a week or two at elevated room
temperatures. Although any sealed bag will maintain a "vacuum" when air
volume has been removed, most plastics will allow enough oxygen through to
quickly increase the low oxygen levels (making the treatment ineffective, even
though the bag may still be shrunken in size).
Another concern is the useful life of the oxygen
removing chemical pack. Ageless is designed to continue working. An Ageless
package will continue to scavenge oxygen that leaks through the barrier over
weeks or months. (Given that it is not exhausted almost immediately by a poor
barrier film container). The packs are designed to heat, not to continue
absorbing oxygen.
Lastly, Ageless is sold in packets of known oxygen
absorbing capacity. It does no good to absorb 95% of the oxygen, thus shrinking
the bag, while not providing an effective anoxic atmosphere.
Hope this helps sort this out. I'm open for more
questions.
js
Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems / Microclimate
Technologies International
Supplies and Solutions for Microclimate and
Oxygen-free display and storage
www.keepsafe.ca www.microclimate.ca 1 800
683-4696
Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems / Microclimate
Technologies International
Supplies and Solutions for Microclimate and
Oxygen-free display and storage
www.keepsafe.ca www.microclimate.ca 1 800
683-4696
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:13
PM
Subject: ThermaCare air-activated heat
packs
Jane
Could you give some more info on how
this works to kill wool moths & larvae. I am sure I am not the only one on
the list interested in this method for some of our personal textiles, even if
it isn't tested for conservation care.
Thanx
Sheldon
On
Thursday, January 13, 2005, at 06:50 PM, Jane Hammond wrote:
I've also wondered the same. I have used them to store my own
woolens and have also experimented, successfully, with non-traditional
anoxic treatments on some bug-fested sweaters, using Space Bags and
ThermaCaret air-activated heat packs sold in the drug stores for sports
injuries. The pacs appear to contain the same ingredients as Ageless (see
below) and certainly have the same granular feel both before and after
exhaustion of materials. Plus, the adhesive side designed to stick to your
back allows the very warm packet to be attached to whichever side becomes
"top" in the SpaceBag, away from the object. So far, the SpaceBags have
provided an airtight seal - at least for the 8-hour life of the packets-and
the packet/packets deactivated (cool down) within 30 min.
I
mentioned this bit of Outsider Treatment to some textile conservators at a
recent regional meeting but haven't really had time to really pursue the
possibilities or do the investigative work needed. Any feedback or ideas
would be greatly appreciated . If proved safe, it would great to know
emergency help for infestations was as close as the local
drugstore.
Jane Hammond
Here's info about ThermaCare I just
pulled up:
ThermaCare is an innovative
topical heat therapy that provides pain relief combined with long-lasting
deep muscle relaxation. Each ThermaCare HeatWrap has a heat pack area
composed of oval heat discs (ThermaCells) that contain iron, carbon, sodium
chloride, sodium thiosulfate, and water. When these heat cells are exposed
to atmospheric air, they undergo an exothermic oxidative reaction that
produces detectable levels of heat (40°C) for up to eight hours.
On Jan 13, 2005, at 3:08 PM, Mary Ballard wrote:
Hi everyone: Our shy & retiring computer administrator
Mignon (who keeps us
organized) sent us this query & there seems to
be a lot of interest, so I
hope everyone will think about it &
respond to the list, with cc:'s to the
originators.
"Mignon Erixon-Stanford" <erixonm@xxxxxxxxxx>
01/13/05 02:18PM
>>>
Question for the
textiles experts...
----- Original Message -----
From:
"Kiersten Latham" <kierstenl@xxxxxxxxx>
To:
<RCAAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005
1:01 PM
Subject: Re: Space Bags
I am VERY interested in
this question too. Amazingly, I was just
thinking
similar thoughts earlier this week!
Kiersten F.
Latham, Collection Manager
Kansas Cosmosphere & Space
Center
1100 N. Plum Hutchinson, KS 67501
620-662-2305
x309
-----Original Message-----
From: Registrars
Committee of the AAM on behalf of Susan Smyer
Sent: Thu 1/13/2005
11:51 AM
To: RCAAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Space
Bags
Good morning everyone,
I need to store large numbers
of sheet, pillowcases and wool blankets
for lengthy periods of time
and I don't have much climate-controlled
space for storage. Have any
of you used Space Bags that vacuum out air
and compress the bags?
They are made from polyethylene and nylon which
is probably OK to
use, but I would like to know if they off-gas or do
anything horrible
to textiles.
Thanks for your help.
Susan
Smyer
Collections Manager
Battleship TEXAS SHS
3527
Battleground Rd.
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 479-2431
ex.239
susan.smyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mary W.
Ballard
Senior Textiles Conservator
Smithsonian Center for Materials
Research & Education
4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD 20746
USA
tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
email:
ballardm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Snug
Comforts
for your Home
Studio 413
Park Trades Center
326 West Kalamazoo
Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI
49007
Phone: 269
330-2305
snugcomforts@xxxxxxxxxxx
Please note the new email
address.
snugcomforts@xxxxxxxxxxx
PLEASE
CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS BOOKS AND MAILING LIST AND START USING THE NEW EMAIL
ADDRESS. THANX
sschwitek@xxxxxxxxxxx
The old one is
still active, but I am going to be switching over at some point and want
people to start using the new one.
Sheldon Schwitek
1738
Commonwealth Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI.
49006
Ph: 269 345-9002
Cell:
269 330-2305
email: sschwitek@xxxxxxxxxxx
We cannot in fairness
rail against those
who destroy the rain forest or
threaten the spotted
owl
when we have made our own yards uninhabitable.
from "Noah's
Garden" by Sara Stein
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