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polypropylene box
Plastic enclosures are preferred for frequently used collections
because they protect photographs from fingerprints and provide
physical support. Plastic enclosures should be made from plastics
such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, spun-bonded polyolefins,
or polystyrene. These plastics are recommended by ISO standards
because they are typically inert, unplasticized, and have good
chemical stability. They may be used safely with many photographic
materials in many situations. Since photographs can adhere to
smooth surfaces at high humidites, use of plastic of any type
should be avoided if prolonged storage at relative humidities
above 80% is likely. Avoid all plastics that have fillers, coatings,
or UV absorbers. Avoid the use of polyester, polyethylene, and
polypropylene that has a hazy film on the surface, which indicates
that the plastic film is coated or is heavily plasticized. Avoid
using adhesives or fasteners that may cause chemical or physical
damage, such as rubber cement, pressure-sensitive tape, paper
clips, or rubber bands. When not stored in cold conditions, plastic
enclosures of any kind should not be used with nitrate or early
acetate films.
Prints
An excellent storage method for photographs is to place the print
in a mat. Mats provide a great deal of protection from physical
damage and also provide some degree of protection from pollutants
and environmental fluctuations. However, mats are fairly expensive,
time consuming to make, and greatly increase the amount of storage
space needed for a large photograph collection. For many situations
a paper folder or a polyester "L" sleeve with a piece
of 2-ply board for support can be good solutions when a mat is
not a feasible option. A polyester "L" sleeve is made
from two pieces of polyester placed on top of one another and
sealed along two adjacent edges. Place the sleeved photograph
into a buffered pH folder and into a document box. An even less
costly approach for large collections or collections that receive
little use is to place the photograph into an "L" sleeve
or a folder and use the 2-ply support only for brittle items.
This choice does however decrease the degree of protection from
handling damage. Photographs with flaking or especially sensitive
surfaces should not be stored in plastic because damage that can
occur from the static charge lifting media or binders off the
photographic support. Prints larger than 8 x 10 inches should
be shelved horizontally. If vertical storage is chosen, be sure
the box is snugly filled, or use a spacer to fill unused space
to prevent photographs in the box from slumping. If vertical shelving
is chosen, make
 Please Contact Us to discuss your polypropylene box
needs. You design it, we build it.
polypropylene
box
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