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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.