[NHCOLL-L:2279] RE: "paper or plastic"

[Paul Callomon]

Re: cardboard in collections

Despite its being a cellulose product, the humidity-absorbing property of cardboard can be a real advantage in high-humidity environments. The same goes for wood, which in almost every other respect is not a good storage medium. As always, one should take a holistic view. If the building has proper humidity control and does not suffer from wild temperature swings, then impermeable slow-cooling plastic is a better medium than anything cellulose-based. If, however, there is a lot of humidity present at times then the ameliorating effects of cardboard may be a net benefit. Remember too that slow-cooling, slow-heating materials like sheet metal are magnets for condensation.

Regards,

PC. 

Paul Callomon
Collections Manager
Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
Department of Malacology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
Tel 215-405-5096
Fax 215-299-1170
Secretary, American Malacological Society
On the web at http://erato.acnatsci.org/ams/


>>> "Simmons, John E" <jsimmons at ku.edu> 05/07/04 09:13AM >>>
Depends on the paper or the plastic.  The only acceptable cardboard is acid-free board.  The drawbacks to cardboard include that it absorbs relative humidity, can attract pests, and you have to open the container to see the specimen (which means more handling and it will take you longer to do pest inspections).  I personally prefer rigid polystyrene boxes because you can see through them and they are very durable.  However, do not use polystyrene if you are using naphthelene or paradichlorobenzene (PDB) as fumigants, or anything else that contains benzene rings, because it will craze and melt the plastic.
 
--John

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Gregory Watkins-Colwell [mailto:gregory.watkins-colwell at yale.edu] 
	Sent: Fri 5/7/2004 7:12 AM 
	To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu 
	Cc: 
	Subject: [NHCOLL-L:2276] "paper or plastic"
	
	
	Skeleton storage boxes:  plastic or cardboard?  I'd be interested in hearing the various opinions on this.  I have my opinion... but what do others think?
	
	greg
	
	

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