Dear all

Can I start by thanking all the colleagues who took the time and trouble to
respond to my request for views on Vacuum Packing.

As promised, to summarise the feedback

This technology has been around for over ten years and is extensively used
in Australia. A number of conservation departments in this Country have
looked at the technology. There is as always mixed advice on the Technology.

Whilst depriving paper of air can be a good thing as it reduces its chemical
activity, concern was expressed over whether the removal of moisture would
reduce the RH too low causing paper to become brittle. Also if the ink is at
all wet and you squeeze the documents together you will get transfer from
one page to another thus obscuring the information stored. Another problem
is if the paper is at all pressure sensitive you might lose any image on the
document. There was also concern over whether Plasticisers can cause ink to
become more mobile and thus start transferring between documents which again
leads to a loss of information. If the documents are not protected by a
plain file cover the close proximity of the paper to the vacuum package
could lead to ink transferring from the paper to the cover thus losing
information when you re open the package.

Concern was also expressed over the chemical make up of the pouches are they
of Archival quality, not all are, do they contain plasticisers which could
migrate into the paper, are they PVC and do they give off acids. Would
vacuuming slow or accelerate any migration from offgassing. There might be a
need to re visit the vacuuming after 5 years, apparently there have been
examples of the pouches re inflating of their own accord after the vacuum
breaks down (quite an image really).

Finally concern was expressed over whether this would be suitable for
frequently used documents as the constant re packaging of the material would
give additional wear and tear to it. I have to say that I do not think it
would be suitable for large scale operations as the time taken in vacuuming
the material would probably not equate to the saving in space.

However the technology is already been used to store rare books and to send
out journal extracts. It is also being investigated as a tool in disaster
planning, apparently if you place wet documents into a vacuum pack and
vacuum almost all the water gets extracted as well. As I have said it is
also very good for protecting items against the effects of smoke and water.

I hope this is helpful and if I receive any further information I will let
you know.

Regards

Nigel

Nigel Hardman
Group Archives
SCOPS Warehouse
Bootle

*: 8810 2822  or 0151 966 2822
Fax : 8810 2831 or 0151 966 2831
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        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Hardman, Nigel [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent:   23 January 2004 16:23
        To:     [log in to unmask]
        Subject:        Re: Vacuum Packing Files

        Dear all

        Probably more a question for our conservation colleagues, although I
am sure
        that Archivists as well will have a view.

        I have spent part of this morning looking at a system for vacuum
packing
        modern files. I am interested to know if anyone else has seen a
similar
        system. Also does anyone have a view on whether totally depriving
paper of
        the normal environment, especially air, would have a damaging effect
on it
        and does plastic contain anything which might migrate into the paper
with
        equally damaging effects. I have to say from a security, protection
from
        water and smoke point of view, the system certainly has its
advantages.
        Although in extreme conditions if a fire melts it, your file would
be beyond
        recall. It also supposedly reduces space by up to 40%, which can
only be
        attractive.

        Please reply off list and I will summarise any views I get for the
        Listserve.

        Many thanks

        Nigel


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