PVC

ausjack · June 21, 2013, 07:56:28 PM

anyone know what the mint issues in PVC these day..just want to know so I can get it out, like are my wedding sets in PVC :huh:

Fulvio · June 21, 2013, 08:01:53 PM

Nothing. PVC was discontinued for all their packaging decades ago.

purplepennyhunter · June 21, 2013, 08:02:46 PM

The outer plastic on the 2 coin unc sets can be given the heave-ho.

Anything around a PNC also can go in the bin.

That's the first 2 just off the top of my head.

bellyflorin · June 21, 2013, 08:16:28 PM

AJ your weddings sets should be fine , they are in capsules ,which are scratch resistant acrylic.Chemically inert. Acid and softener-free .

ausjack · June 21, 2013, 08:40:10 PM

thanks belly, I thought they were all good but just checkin :good:
and thanks PP and anything else you can think of please list as I have a few things like the 1987 nsw $10 in a little blue floder, I'll have look and list what else I'm suss on, cheers

Fulvio · June 21, 2013, 09:13:44 PM

The little blue folders were PVC, IIRC.

Basically, look out for soft vinyl packaging. PVC is a hard plastic (which is why they make sewerage pipes and the like from it). To make it pliable, they use plasticisers, which are what kill your coins. They leach out over time, and the reaction with moisture in the air produces acid which eats your treasures away.

Hard PVC should be safe enough, at least short-term. Coins in sealed packaging should also be safe even in an outer PVC sleeve, however anything else stored nearby is at risk.

The biggest issue, apart from old mint packaging, is PVC storage products. A lot of album pages were PVC, including just about all slide albums. They're pretty easy to spot, by the look, feel and smell of the stuff.

keldaw · June 22, 2013, 08:01:20 AM

thanks for that advice guys , looks like I will have to remove all my
$ 10.00 , state series coins out of their packing also .. I never new it was pvc package ,,. ,, kel ,,

just checked them and the coins are in a cardboard sleeve with a see through window , would that help protect them ..?? ,, kel ,,

ausjack · June 22, 2013, 09:36:12 AM

right, here's a quick scan of a couple so state and pnc out for sure, what about the others :scratch_one-s_head:

keldaw · June 22, 2013, 09:53:12 AM

Quote from: 'ausjack' pid='18958' dateline='1371859572'right, here's a quick scan of a couple so state and pnc out for sure, what about the others :scratch_one-s_head:

A J , do you think it is still ok in that blue case , it is cardboard with a see through plastic insert ,..sorry but I did not know that . ,, kel ,,

ausjack · June 22, 2013, 10:25:36 AM

I'm not sure either sorry Kel, so hope we get an answer

Sapyx · June 22, 2013, 11:05:56 AM

The simple test for PVC is: is the plastic hard and rigid, or soft and flexible? Hard rigid plastic should be OK for medium and long-term storage. If the plastic is flexible, it's been made flexible by adding plasticizer, and it's the plasticizers in PVC that do the damage over time, rather than the PVC itself.

ausjack · June 22, 2013, 11:29:49 AM

umm so what if it's not really hard as in the capsules but not soft either..eg mint sets and the one's like the $1 bluebell as they do have a little flex in them..sorry Sap but thanks for your help so far :good:

Fulvio · June 22, 2013, 04:32:10 PM

http://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic4.htm
"Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC is a thermoplastic that is formed when vinyl chloride (CH2=CH-Cl) polymerizes. When made, it's brittle, so manufacturers add a plasticizer liquid to make it soft and moldable. PVC is commonly used for pipes and plumbing because it's durable, can't be corroded and is cheaper than metal pipes. Over long periods of time, however, the plasticizer may leach out of it, rendering it brittle and breakable."

Which is why your car dashboard self-destructs.

And here are the number codes. 3 is the bad stuff.

http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/lib/different-types-of-plastic.htm

You may also want to read what the government has to say about document storage:
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/family.html
"There are a range of plastic sleeves that are suitable for use with archival records. "Good" plastics are polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET). For archival storage, polyester is the most stable choice. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) should be avoided. This is the plastic that has that characteristic plastic smell and an oily quality to the surface. PVC will, over time, release vapours which are acidic and extremely damaging to photographs and paper documents. It can also cause some media, like photocopy toner, to soften and stick to the plastic or other sheets."

Good hint in there about oven bags too. You learn something new every day, eh?

Hmm.. you could make 10,000 2x2's out of this roll for $185 (which sounds like its way overpriced anyway):
http://zettaflorence.com.au/fabric-a-film/detail/788/flypage/1206?sef=hcfp

robbiegal · June 22, 2013, 05:18:24 PM

I was at office works last week-end and bloke there was also buying the polypropylene binders and sleeves for photographs
he said he had done a session with the national archives and they gave them the names/types of products that office works sell that are suitable for archival storage

I grabbed a few of the binders to replace my old ones
they also had 'non PVC' binders although it didn't say what they were made out of - selling them as an eco friendly product
•PVC free, non-toxic and earth friendly

it also turned out the large Bantex folders that we have been using for a fair while are polypropylene as well

Mister T · June 22, 2013, 07:07:20 PM

Quote from: 'ausjack' pid='18972' dateline='1371866389'umm so what if it's not really hard as in the capsules but not soft either..eg mint sets and the one's like the $1 bluebell as they do have a little flex in them..sorry Sap but thanks for your help so far :good:

I don't believe mint sets (post 1984) are PVC, and looking at the $10 it doesn't look like it's in PVC to me.