What Is Acid-Free and Why Does It Matter?
All paper products degrade slowly and acetic acid is formed which can act as a catalyst to decay and acid may migrate to the contents of the storage medium, damaging them. If an acidic product comes into contact with paper, photos, textiles or other similar items, the acid can cause permanent damage. This is why it is very important to use good quality acid free and archival materials for the protection of your treasured memories. Storage in archival products will slow the aging process and add years of life to the items you value. It is better to prevent damage and deterioration, than try to repair or correct it. If you do not use true acid free materials, you will find that your artifacts, papers and photos may dis-colour or disintegrate more quickly than they would naturally. For the storage of photo’s you additionally need to check that the materials you use are photo-safe or have passed the Photographic Activity Test, or PAT, (ISO Standard 18916) What does Archival Quality mean?St
