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**Darrell** · 12-26-2007, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by kenneth wolfe View Post

I was wondering if someone knows of a place where I could buy archival quality plastic envelopes for my medals. I don't know if it's just me or what but I think my badges are corroding and changing color in the plastic bags I'm currently using.

Kenneth
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Kenneth, what type of badges are you talking about? Zinc Badges, EKs?

**Paul R.** · 12-26-2007, 11:53 AM

Kenneth. I don't mean to rattle on here. Take a look at the pinned article on plastic at the top of this site. It will give you info. on types of storage plastics that are suited to store all types of itmes in. Arm yourself with knowledge frist. Purchased items through reputable companies that sell good relible products, and that have been in business for a long time. When you are inform you can buy the correct items that you need.There are many companies that sell conservation items. However many of these compaines do not have real conservation items. They usually sell lower or poor quality conservation items. Like many companies do they purchase items from suppliers that no nothing about conservation items. Then they resell the items in catalogs, or web sites. Saying that they sell conservation items. When in fact they are selling poor grade storage item. These companies will list there low quality products. As high end archival items. When these companies list the conservation items they are selling. The product discriptions is vauge. (sort of like some people in our hobby)

Some companies that have been in business for a long time and sell to both museums and the public. There are three that come to the top for now. (do a internet search for more). Talas Conservation Co, Gaylord Conservation Company, and University Conservation Products. I am in no way associated with these companies, or recieve any compensation from them. Paul
We spend a lot of money on our hobby. Spend a few more dollars to preserve history!

**Stahlhelm** · 12-26-2007, 01:40 PM

Kenneth:

I also collect coins, and I have also been through this same issue with coins. I've paid so much for some of the coins I have that I had to figure this one out much earlier, just to have any peace of mind.

Eventually, I discovered that mylar is about the only such type of storage material that is considered archival in the coin collecting community (and is of the plastic envelope-type design you refer to). It's a much more rigid material, and consequently not ideal for all purposes, but it is archival. Since it is more ridid, the downside is that it does tend to crack more easily, needing ocassional replacement--especially if you are handling them much. Since it is rigid and hard, it is also a challenge to slide things between mylar, without rubbing them against the envelope surfaces. Mylar is a more rigid material, due to the fact that it does not contain the non-archival plasticizing (and softening) chemicals which are dangerous to metals over time. It's just another one of those "inconvenient truths", so to speak. It seems that the best thing to use really isn't the best thing to use.

As far as the discoloration or tone changes you're noticing on your medals stored in those flexible plastic envelopes, there can be an even worse problem, if it's allowed to progress. The chemicals which leach out of those things over time can also produce a sticky, corrosive slime which can be VERY difficult to remove, without also damaging and/or altering the original finish of the affected item. I've seen the results of this on coins, and it is not a pleasant sight.

As Paul R. said, this information is also discussed very thoroughly in another thread on this forum. I'm even sure I've typed the same information, more or less, in another thread myself.

I've gone through great pains and time to figure out all this stuff earlier myself, first with my coins. For those, I use acrylic coin holders, with appropriately-sized acrylic inserts. I then use custom-cut strips of mylar to fill in the extra space in the inserts, so the coin won't move around and be subjected to the further adverse affect of friction and wear. I actually custom-cut the mylar strips myself from other mylar envelops, and it works fine. The difference is that since coin collecting is so much more popular, there are far more commercially-specialized ways of dealing with archival storage issues. If, for example, someone would make such customized, archival holders for all types and sizes of medals, as they do for coins, then our headaches would be eliminated. I will end my paragraph on coin connections only by saying this: You'd also be surprised how much you can learn about such archival issues by reading archival articles related to coin conservation. Since coins and medals are made of metal, the connections and are obvious, and the information normally works for both.

I hope I have been at least somewhat helpful here, and as Paul said, also look for that other thread on plastics. If I find any places that sell mylar archival envelopes for medals, I'll let you know. The only reason I haven't figured that one out yet is because I currently store my medals in display cases, on muslin, and not in envelopes.

Hopefully helpful,

Chris

**Stahlhelm** · 12-26-2007, 02:15 PM

Wow! I just looked at the pinned thread on plastics, and that is definitely the place to look. Ralph has posted a VERY thorough description of the various plastic-related materials, complete with all their characteristics. There are many more materials discussed there besides mylar, with lots of great information!

Thanks for that thread, Ralph!

Chris

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