Materials that are safe to use in direct contact with all plastics are:
- Acid free paper for wrapping.
- Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate) is an acceptable material to use for display stands.
- Charcoal cloth for wrapping objects that have the potential to off-gas acidic fumes, e.g. cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate objects.
- Microfibre, a blend of polyester and polyamide, useful as cloth for cleaning.
- Tyvek, a form of polythene, useful for protecting objects from dust.
- Plastazote, a form of polythene foam, useful for securing objects within storage spaces.
- Melinex, a form of polyethylene terephthalate, an inert material to lay over degraded objects to protect them from dust and to put between them to discourage cross contamination. Also good as a buffer on painted surfaces.
- Polyester wadding useful for providing padding for example on hangers for costumes.
- Polypropylene, appropriate for trays to hold objects.
- Silicone release paper, useful for objects with potentially tacky surfaces.
Products that help maintain a good environment are:
- Ageless oxygen scavengers for an oxygen free environment. This is suitable for preventing the crumbling of polyurethane foams.
- Silica gel, as a buffering agent moderating the effects of change in relative humidity.
- Scavengers such as charcoal cloth and molecular sieves to remove polluting vapours.
Products that help detect trouble are:
- Indicator strips and chemical - impregnated string which change colour in the presence of acidic gasses.
For more information on these please go to Links.