Appendix 6: Packing, Storage and Mounting Materials

Listed below are details of some of the materials likely to be encountered by those responsible for the packing, storage and mounting of objects in collections. Note that not all of these are recommended for conservation purposes.

Acid-free Tissue Paper

contains cotton fibres with alpha cellulose from which all acids, lignin, alum and impurities have been removed;
unbuffered with a neutral pH;
available in reams, translucent and usually shiny one side;
17 gsm;
is used for general storage, as tissue balls for lightweight support in storage;
good for storage of metal and leather artefacts and non-sensitive materials;
not suitable for direct contact with textiles or paper artefacts; and
available from packaging suppliers.

Alpha Cellulose Mat

contains cellulose derived from cotton with all impurities removed;
high stability and longevity; and
used in picture framing.

Activated Carbon Cloth

specially prepared cloth containing activated charcoal that absorbs atmospheric pollutants including organic acids and ozone;
available as a cloth 95 cm wide that can also be machine sewn;
available from conservation suppliers; and
used with pollutant-sensitive objects within a sealed display case or storage box.

Adhesives

used to secure overlapping parts of box construction;
parts need to be clamped in place while adhering; and
use Mowilith PVA emulsion adhesive or UHU glue sticks.

Art-sorb®

moisture-sensitive silica material that absorbs and desorbs moisture as relative humidity conditions change. Conditioned to 50 % relative humidity and used to control moisture levels in sealed display cases or storage containers; and
available as beads, in sheets or cassettes from conservation suppliers.

Archival Acid-free Tissue Paper

unbuffered;
contains cotton fibres with alpha cellulose from which all acid, lignin, alum and impurities have been removed;
neutral pH 7;
16 gsm available as sheets or on a roll;
used for storage of paper, photographs and textiles; and
available from conservation suppliers but is more expensive than acid-free tissue paper.

Blotting Paper

cotton fibre content varies from 30 % up to 100 %;
all acids, lignin, alum and impurities have been removed; and
usually pH neutral (pH 7) but may be buffered with calcium carbonate to pH 8.5.

Boxes

standard polypropylene boxes are available from conservation suppliers;
custom made polypropylene boxes are available from conservation suppliers but there is a cost for each box template; and
custom made brown cardboard boxes are available from box manufacturers.

Buffered Acid-free Tissue Paper

opaque white tissue that contains cotton fibres with alpha cellulose from which all acid, lignin, alum and impurities have been removed;
buffered with 2 – 3 % calcium or magnesium carbonate to pH 8.5;
16 gsm;
high stability and longevity;
used to line non-archival storage boxes to stop acid migration from the box into stored objects and to pack vegetable fibre-based objects such as paper and cotton/linen textiles;
not suitable for colour photographs, silk, leather, wood or metals; and
available from conservation suppliers

Cellular Polyethylene Sheeting (Bubblewrap™, Sealed Air™)

air pockets come in 10 mm and 20 mm diameters;
used for cushioning in temporary packing and storage;
the raised ‘bubble’ side should not be in direct contact with the object as the bubble pattern might transfer onto the surface of some objects;
available from packaging suppliers

Cotton Tape

is 100 % cotton and is available in 6 mm, 12 mm and 20 mm widths in 500 - 1000 metre rolls;
extensively used to restrain objects in their storage boxes by securing them either through the base of the box or through a lining to the box;
a Cell-Aire® strip can be threaded onto the cotton tape to provide a cushion between the tape and the object; and
available from haberdashery suppliers

Double Sided Tape (Conservation Grade 3M Double Sided Tape)

pH neutral and comes in widths of 6 mm, 12 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm;
passes the Photographic Activity Test (PAT);
many uses such as encapsulating archival material in Mylar, holding photo corners onto supporting boards; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Foam Core Board (Fomecore™)

contains a polystyrene foam core with acid-free alpha cellulose surface paper;
is lightweight, cuts easily and is rigid;
available in 3 mm and 5 mm thicknesses (10 mm board is not acid-free);
used for supports, backboards and light weight storage boxes; and
available from conservation and art suppliers.

Gummed Paper Tape

acid-free paper buffered with calcium carbonate to pH 8.5;
high tensile strength;
used to cover corners when boxes are hand made and to seal the back of frames; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Library Board

archival-quality board made in Australia from long-fibred, fully bleached chemical wood, cotton or linen pulp;
lignin-free buffered with 3 % calcium carbonate to pH 8;
available in 240 gsm and 490 gsm;
grey/green colour;
used to make folders, phase boxes and supports for paper-based objects; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Marvelseal® 360

aluminium-based nylon and polyethylene barrier film used to seal wooden surfaces and to line transport boxes and crates, shelves or display plinths;
puncture resistant;
staple into position and cover with an acid-free foil sealing tape; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Multi-purpose Corrugated Board

blue-grey corrugated board;
acid and lignin-free, manufactured from fully bleached wood, cotton or linen pulp;
alkaline buffered with 2 – 3 % calcium or magnesium carbonate to pH 8;
available in single (3 mm) and double (5 mm) wall;
suitable for backboards, folders, as a support for flat fragile objects and for making storage boxes and components thereof; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Polyester Fabric (Parasilk, Lining)

used as a barrier between Ethafoam™ 220 and an object and to make cushions filled with polyester wadding; and
available from fabric suppliers.

Polyester Film (Mylar®, Melinex®)

clear polyester film available in three thicknesses 75 µm, 100 µm and 125 µm;
used for interleaving, encapsulating, photographic sleeves, wrapping paintings and as a protective barrier between different materials; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Polyester Wadding (Dacron™)

comes as loose fibres (craft fibre) and as sheets of different thicknesses (100 gsm, 200 gsm) and thinner quilting wadding;
while used for padding and filling soft sculpture supports, this wadding should never be used in direct contact with an object as the fibres are likely to get attached to the object’s surface; and
available from fabric suppliers.

Polyethylene Foam (Ethafoam 220™)

available in black and white in a variety of thicknesses up to 100 mm;
is a firm foam that is easily carved to form supports for objects;
very rough and should never be in direct contact with an object. Cover Ethafoam™ 220 either by hot gluing Cell-Aire® over the contact surface or by covering the foam with Parasilk or Tyvek®1443R; and
available from Dunlop Flexible Foam.

Polyethylene Foam (Ethafoam PE30™)

high density foam which good for absorbing vibration and other shocks during transport; and
available from Dunlop Flexible Foam.

Polyethylene Foam Backing Rod

comes in many different diameters and is useful for making circular cradles or bollards for object parts to snake around in storage; and
available from building suppliers.

Polyethylene Foam Sheets (Cell-Aire®, Polycell)

available in thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm;
used for cushioning objects in boxes, in packing and on shelves;
may be hot glued onto Ethafoam 220™ as a protective layer between the rough Ethafoam™ 220 surface and an object; and
available from packaging suppliers.

Polyethylene Self Adhesive Tape (Tyvek Tape)

is self-adhesive, spun-bonded polyethylene tape that is much stronger than paper tape;
available in three widths (25 mm, 38 mm and 50 mm);
used as tabs for closures, accessing trays within a box, mat hinges, book repairs; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Polyethylene Sheeting

available in 100 µm and 200 µm, various widths and in clear and black;
virgin sheeting is best as cheaper varieties have a waxy finish which can transfer to objects;
is not generally recommended for use as packing material as its electrostatic nature attracts dust. It can be used as a dust sheet however (better than nothing); and
available from packaging suppliers.

Polyethylene Ziplock Bags

are useful for the storage of small items;
useful for isolating metal components from other sensitive material; and
available from supermarkets.

Polypropylene Board

used by conservation suppliers for making storage boxes of diverse sizes.

Polypropylene Corrugated Board (Coreflute®, Fluteboard®)

available in 3 mm and 5 mm thicknesses;
used as an alternative board for supports and box making where a larger format is required;
care needs to be taken as the plastic is very sharp on the corners and needs to be rounded off;
plastic surface needs to be sanded before hot glue is used to give it some tooth; and
available from sign writers’ suppliers.

Polystrap and Buckles

used to tie down heavier objects onto pallets;
use a Cell-Aire® strip as a cushion between the polystrap and the object; and
available from packaging suppliers.

Polystyrene Products

not usually used in conservation due to the electrostatic properties and deterioration;
sheets may be used as insulation when transporting crates of objects; and
available from plastic product suppliers.

Polystyrene Bean Bags

are purpose-made small bean bags of differing sizes;
are a handy form of temporary support but must be used properly. Fold the bags so that the beans support an object rather than the object settle through the beans to an unsupported hard surface; and
available from stores that stock bean bags and craft suppliers.

Polyurethane Products

not used in conservation apart from water-based polyurethane sealants; and
less stable than the other plastics.

Polyvinyl Chloride Products

not used in conservation;
less stable than the other plastics; and
off gas detrimental acidic vapours as they break down.

Rising Museum Board

100% cotton board that is acid-free and buffered;
available in 489 gsm, 978 gsm and 1948 gsm;
available in diverse colours;
used for supports and mounting; and
available from conservation suppliers.

Silica Gel

silica gel absorbs moisture, changing colour (from orange to green/pale yellow or colourless) as it becomes saturated;
silica gel can be regenerated by heating until it regains the orange colour; and
available from conservation suppliers

Spun Bonded Polyethylene Sheet (Tyvek® Sheet 1085D)

spun bonded polyethylene sheet available in two thicknesses 43 gsm and 75 gsm;
passes the Photographic Activity Test (PAT);
does not tear and can be heat sealed;
suitable for envelopes and folders for storing archival and photographic objects;
available from conservation suppliers.

Spun Bonded Polyethylene Sheet (Tyvek® 1443R)

very versatile spun bonded polyethylene fabric;
allows water vapour to pass through in one direction;
can be heat sealed or sewn and washed;
used for dust covers, linings; and
available from DuPont.

Straw Board

is usually alkaline but contains harmful impurities;
the colour runs in the presence of moisture; and
is not suitable for conservation purposes.

Velcro Dots

self adhesive Velcro dots;
very useful as closures on box tabs; and
available from haberdashery suppliers.

Webbing Tie Downs

used to secure heavy objects on pallets; and
available from hardware stores.