Does anybody know if polystyrene (foam) boxes are safe and inert for storing coin albums in?
I get them for free, they are strong/rigid and their insulation properties stop temperature fluctuations, but if they vent any nasty gas I'll avoid them.
Quote from: 'nealeffendi' pid='37999' dateline='1387856861'Does anybody know if polystyrene (foam) boxes are safe and inert for storing coin albums in?
I get them for free, they are strong/rigid and their insulation properties stop temperature fluctuations, but if they vent any nasty gas I'll avoid them.
This stuff is used to export live crayfish from Geraldton so I imagine there are no nasty gasses in it.
They are however quite flimsy so you wouldn't want to overload them with coins.
Quote from: 'trout' pid='38006' dateline='1387859126'Quote from: 'nealeffendi' pid='37999' dateline='1387856861'Does anybody know if polystyrene (foam) boxes are safe and inert for storing coin albums in?
I get them for free, they are strong/rigid and their insulation properties stop temperature fluctuations, but if they vent any nasty gas I'll avoid them.
This stuff is used to export live crayfish from Geraldton so I imagine there are no nasty gasses in it.
They are however quite flimsy so you wouldn't want to overload them with coins.
Hi Trout
I'm getting boxes that held prawns, they are fairly strong (they stack them with about half a ton per pallet) and I'll be using them to store albums (from Purple Penny) :thank_you:) with all my nice stuff, not my bulk stuff.
Trout, crayfish and prawns; something is fishy.
Quote from: 'nealeffendi' pid='38008' dateline='1387862495'Quote from: 'trout' pid='38006' dateline='1387859126'Quote from: 'nealeffendi' pid='37999' dateline='1387856861'Does anybody know if polystyrene (foam) boxes are safe and inert for storing coin albums in?
I get them for free, they are strong/rigid and their insulation properties stop temperature fluctuations, but if they vent any nasty gas I'll avoid them.
This stuff is used to export live crayfish from Geraldton so I imagine there are no nasty gasses in it.
They are however quite flimsy so you wouldn't want to overload them with coins.
Hi Trout
I'm getting boxes that held prawns, they are fairly strong (they stack them with about half a ton per pallet) and I'll be using them to store albums (from Purple Penny) :thank_you:) with all my nice stuff, not my bulk stuff.
Trout, crayfish and prawns; something is fishy.
Boxing day is normally my "Eat all I can see" day for sea food.
I have prawns, Crays, Bugs and chili Mussels all good to go. :drooling:
Quote from: 'nealeffendi' pid='38008' dateline='1387862495'I'll be using them to store albums (from Purple Penny) :thank_you:) with all my nice stuff, not my bulk stuff.
Mmmm...
Although this is referring to artwork on foam core boards, the same would apply to boxes. I use Broccoli boxes to build worm farms, and can attest that they do break down from exposure to sunlight. It takes about a year or so to be noticeable.
Foam boards were originally developed for use in the graphic arts, but have now found their way into the world of fine art. Foam-center boards are lightweight boards made of a rigid plastic foam with a paper or plastic facing. They resist warping, are more dimensionally stable than boards made from wood pulp, and are far less acidic. Despite the many advantages of this type of board over most paper boards, it cannot be considered archival because the core is polystyrene, or some variant of polystyrene, and this material naturally decomposes over a long period of time and is said to give off acid vapors. This aging process is greatly accelerated when exposed to ultraviolet light (some of the newer boards have UV stabilizers) and air pollution. Some manufacturers have begun to buffer the surface paper to help maintain an acid-free surface. In museum style picture framing, where foam board is used as a backing material, it is not exposed to ultraviolet light and the elements. This would make its use in framing quite safe as long as it is not in direct contact with the artwork. Unfortunately, some artists think this material is safe to use as a painting or sculpture material for fine artwork when they learn it is used in museum-style framing. Unless foam board is thoroughly covered-particularly the exposed foam edges-with enough paint to seal the surface from air and to prevent ultraviolet light exposure, it will deteriorate too rapidly for fine art.So, if I were going to store coins in such boxes, I would first seal them in LDPE bags, such as the CoinSafe sacks you can get from the bank. Just be sure to heat-seal them, rather than rely on the adhesive strip. You want to prevent contact with both air and the polystyrene.