Safer archival storage sleeves?, by robo on Feb 22, 2018 13:27:29 GMT 1, I just had an interesting and quite technical conversation with someone from Mapac about the different archival sleeve materials.

I've usually bought 160 micron A1 acid-free PVC sleeves, which typically cost £50 for a pack of 10 (stores 20 prints). Apparently PVC has acid in it from its manufacture, and the "acid free" sleeves use a treatment to lock the acid into the PVC so that it can't leach out. They've been in use for a relatively short amount of time, and it's not impossible that eventually the acid could leach out. Long-term testing just hasn't been done.

Alternatively there are also polypropylene "Jet sleeves" from Mapac that use no acid in their manufacture, so there is no risk of acid leaching out ever. The material has been around longer, so its properties are better known. These are much thinner at around 80 micron (because thicker polypropylene is not clear) and way cheaper. Only £6 for 5.

So as much as I prefer my thick PVC sleeves, I'm thinking to try the Jet sleeves next.

Anyone come across this before? Any thoughts?