Comic Encapsulation Support Materials Overview

Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper

  • Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper has actually a few aspects. The terms of Micro Chamber paper: in this context we are referring to a line of trademarked items that are lignin and sulfur-free, that also have alkaline level. It is also made partly of zeolites.
    Such paper reduces that effects of pollutants that are usually associated with paper document degradation. Interleaving are acid free sheets of paper or thin cloth rag put between sheets of a document to prevent the ink transfer from one page to another and reduce the effects of other agents that are pollutants to paper.
  • Note: There seems to be a bit of a debate whether Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper should be replaced and if so when. For a further notes on this I suggest at least start to form your thoughts by looking at these sites to to at least get a idea of the issues at hand.

Acid Free Backing Boards link

These stiff boards are made of cloth/rags or wood/paper. They are usually a little bigger than the size comic These stiff boards are made of cloth/rags or wood/paper. They are usually a little bigger than the size comic book, they are made to support. These boards are inserted in a Mylar sleeve usually in back of a comic book. The board helps supports the comic, to preventing bending the book and also getting creases in it or color breaks on its cover. The acid free nature of these board helps protect the comic book from acid migration found in the aging process of paper. Some boards come with a 3% to 4% calcium carbonate buffer at a ph of about 8.00 added to the acid free backing. The idea is to help reduce the amount of environmental pollutes from getting into the comic. Backing boards fall under the area of archival board in the field of document preservation and in art presentation as a support product such as mattes.

Comic Book Storage Boxes

The day of keeping your comic collection in just some nice clean cardboard box are over. It is now a known fact that such simple storage opinion are straight forward, but damaging to comics over time. The reason for the is the cardboard itself. Acid in the wood pulp of cardboard can migrate into first the cover of a comic and over time the inside pages discoloring and aiding in breaking down their physical structure over time. Lucky there are quick a few vendors who make varying types of fairly acid free comic storage boxes.

Things to look out for when choosing the right storage box for your consideration

• Check to see that your are getting the right size boxes for your collection. A box the is a maybe a little big, like putting modern size book in a box made for silver and golden maybe a waste of space, but is better than the reverse situation.

Seams on storage boxes can break if the container is over loaded or with weather conditions that can effect the chemical bound of the adhesive.

•  Make sure the height of the storage box with its lid is high enough it fit the type of comic encapsulation you are using. For example, make sure it you use Mylar with vertical flaps that the height is not higher than the top of your box, if it is you may have problem with closing the lid on the boxes you have.

Tape

The most under rated comic encapsulation support material is tape. It is used to keep the flap on Mylar sleeves closed. Before acid free tape, comics could and did get damaged by tape getting old and releasing acids. Click here for the main type of acid tape to use, in general.

TIP: remove tape from Mylar sleeve before taking a comic out of it, then put it back on when finished with the comic. A little piece of tape is not worth damaging your comic book.

Paper Conservation Associations and Education

Educational information about the conservation of paper, including comics.

  • Northeast Document Conservation Center: The Northeast Document Conservation Center has a free Online textbook called: Preservation 101 Preservation Basics For Paper And Media Collections.
    See Session 4: Caring For Paper Collections
  • Also see the Additional Resources page: Section 4
  • Conservation Online has shared the back issues of Book and Paper Group Annual of the The American Institute for Conservation.
    • Do a search: “Paper Conservation“, “Paper Care” or “Pedigree Comic”, to find many interesting and some useful resources. 

 

 

Related Terms: