Archival Photographic Protective Enclosures Materials and Issues

The information presented here is designed to provide an overview of the relevant issues to consider when selecting materials for archival storage of photographic images.

Hazards to Photographic Images
Chemical Damage: Unstable storage materials, such as polyvinyl chloride PVC may decompose after a period of time and produce harmful byproducts that can cause staining, fading and irreparable damage photographic images.
Scratches and Abrasions: Sleeving materials such as PVC and Polyester have a hard physical density and may actually scratch photographic surfaces. Some materials like Acetate do not remain flat and will develop wrinkles or ripples that can wear and scuff photographic surfaces.
Sticking and Ferrotyping: Under certain conditions Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyester, and Acetate with highly glossy surfaces can cause damage by sticking and fusing to photographic images.

Archival Qualities and Features
Stable and Non-Reactive: Archival materials should be stable having no negative decomposition characteristics.
Strong and Durable: Archival materials should retain sufficient physical strength and tear resistance equal to or exceeding that of the photographic image that is being protected. Supple Physical Density: Archival materials should be physically strong yet supple and pliable, reducing the risk of chaffing, scratching and scuffing the image.
Material Clarity: Archival materials need to be optically clear and color neutral to enhance the image viewing.
Micro Textured Surface: A slightly textured surface is recommended to reduce the actual surface area in contact with the photographic image. This quality reduces the likelihood of damage from sticking or fusing the image to the protective enclosure. In addition it significantly reduces visually distracting Newton rings.

Polypropylene - Untreated - Recommended
Filmguard Corporation has been using untreated polypropylene for over 15 years. Filmguard polypropylene offers all of the archival qualities of the nearest competitor, Polyester, plus several other key benefits that make Polypropylene the superior archival material.

Benefits of Filmguard's Untreated Polypropylene:

  • It is a very stable and non-reactive material with no hazardous decomposition characteristics.
  • It provides strength, and tear resistance, yet it is pliable and supple reducing the risk of scuffing or abrading images.
  • Optically, it is very clear, color neutral.
  • It provides the added protection of it's micro textured surface which minimizes the possibility of image sticking and surface fusing, along with significantly reducing distracting Newton rings.
  • In addition to being the best suited archival material for long term storage of photographic images, Polypropylene is one of the most cost effective archival materials available.

Polypropylene is the most widely accepted commercial archival storage material in the United States and is recommended by both the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sect 4.3 as well as the American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3. 

 
Polyethylene - High Density, Recommended
Benefits: A very stable and non-reactive material with no hazardous decomposition characteristics. It provides strength, is tear resistance, and is pliable and supple reducing the possibility of scuffing or abrading images.

Optically, High Density Polyethylene is foggy and best suited for non-critical viewing. Polypropylene is recommended by both the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sec 4.3 as well as the American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3.

Polyester - Mylar - Recommended*
Benefits: Polyester is a very stable and non-reactive material with no hazardous decomposition characteristics. It provides strength, and tear resistance. Optically, Polyester is very clear, and is color neutral.

Polyester is recommended* by both the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sect 4.3 as well as the American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3.

*Caution: Due to its high physical density care should be taken to avoid abrading images when handling Polyester sleeves. Ref. the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sec 5 as well as the American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 4.17.

Cellulose Acetate - Not Recommended
Benefits: Acetate is optically very clear and color neutral.
Hazards: While Acetate is an inert and non-reactive material, due to its marginal strength, tear resistance and tendency to buckle and warp after time, presenting the potential for abrading it is not considered ideal for long term storage of photographic images.

The American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3 lists acetate as suitable. The International Organization for Standardization ISO does not listed acetate as suitable.

Polyvinyl Chloride PVC -
Not Recommended
Hazards:* Highly plasticized plastics (such as polyvinyl chloride PVC) are not suitable for long term storage of photographic images and should be avoided. Plasticized materials are may cause sticking or ferrotyping of the image surface resulting in irreparable damage to film and print images. Plasticizers can exude sticky droplets and gooey coatings on photographic surfaces. Eastman Kodak, Ilford, and Polaroid all have advised to avoid PVC.

*To be avoided International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sect 4.3 American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3.

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