Thread: Acid Free
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Old 12-09-2013, 04:56 PM
  #6  
Prism99
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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Hard plastic storage boxes do not have any acid. Soft plastic doesn't have acid either, but can outgas other chemicals that are not good for fabric.

Acid is naturally present in all wood products including cardboard boxes, cedar chests, tissue paper -- anything that contains wood or wood byproducts. "Archival quality" materials have had the acid taken out. If cardboard boxes, tissue paper, scrapbooking paper does not specifically say "archival quality", then you can expect acid. Removing the acid makes archival quality products considerably more expensive.

Cedar chests vary in how much acid they contain. Older chests tend to have dried out so there is not as much acid in them (or wood oils). Wood products in general can be treated with polyurethane, which creates a barrier to acid. Paint probably also creates a barrier against acid.
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