Storage for RAM coins with packaging

[ausjack]

:laugh2: oh sorry yes I had forgotten about that, what a bummer

[Fulvio]

:laugh2: oh sorry yes I had forgotten about that, what a bummer

Y'got that right. Just as well it wasn't all of 'em, eh? Vault #1146 has most of them.

[trout]

All is good Fulvio NONE of my Canberra florins live in ziplocks

[kchan1111]

So is this a reliable way to identify PP container? If it has a 5 in the recycling symbol?

According to this... https://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/cua_plastic_recycling_fact_sheet.pdf

[Fulvio]

So is this a reliable way to identify PP container?

Its reliable insofar as Type 5 is PP, yeah. Its not reliable in that not all products are labelled. For example, supermarket bags are HDPE, same as milk bottles. They don't tell you that because the films tend to jam the shredders that turn plastics into flakes which are then molten and extruded into new pellets.

Also, be aware that containers and their closures are often different materials, and there may even be a seal which could be harmful long-term.

[kchan1111]

Thanks. Was just wondering if there is a way to tell without setting it on fire.

[Fulvio]

Thanks. Was just wondering if there is a way to tell without setting it on fire.

That works. :angel:

So does the recycle code. But less fun. :diablo:

You can also visually identify plastics, as well as by feel and smell. But that won't tell you about any coatings, additives or mechanical properties.

PVC pipe and PVC film are two vastly different products with different properties, but both still carry the same identifier and are recycled the same way. Pipe doesn't have plasticisers, but pages will eat your coins.

Food packaging often contains antimicrobial additives or coatings to better protect the contents and ultimately, you. Whether those extras are harmful to metals is largely unknown though, without trial and error.

And different physical forms, like PET/BoPET or PP/BoPP are the exact same material, just stretched differently to give it more desirable qualities for a given application.

Oh, and of course when you're dealing with films, there are sandwiches made from multiple similar or different layers. Like packages with metal and ink in their core to make them better at keeping an atmosphere in (or out) and the contents fresh for years.

I'm currently trying to find out if there's a BoPP/BoPET film in existence. That would be awesome at dealing with both oxygen and water in a clear film, I reckon. Could be the ultimate coin packaging.

[kchan1111]

Dear lord! Someone should have talked to PopPop and Nana on proper storage...

http://www.littlethings.com/grandparents-hidden-safe

[Fulvio]

Dear lord! Someone should have talked to PopPop and Nana on proper storage...

What was that thing? A TARDIS? Pardon my pessimism about this 3-year-old story...

[trout]

I have absolutely NO idea what type of plastic is used for the rolls that I use with my vacuum sealer, But they would have to be at least food grade.
As there is virtually NO air left in the bags when they are sealed would any of the "Nasties" if any are present in the plastic have any adverse affects on the coins still inside the little baggies from RAM over time??
It has to be at least a better option to vacuum seal these than to have them rattling around in the baggies that are not sealed from the air anyway I would think.

[kchan1111]

I have absolutely NO idea what type of plastic is used for the rolls that I use with my vacuum sealer, But they would have to be at least food grade.
As there is virtually NO air left in the bags when they are sealed would any of the "Nasties" if any are present in the plastic have any adverse affects on the coins still inside the little baggies from RAM over time??
It has to be at least a better option to vacuum seal these than to have them rattling around in the baggies that are not sealed from the air anyway I would think.

I was thinking of getting a vacuum sealer too. But have trouble identifying the plastic for them so I haven't yet. Where did you get your sealer and for how much?

[trout]

I originally bought mine  to use for Fishing/camping trips and for storing bulk Meat purchases and opted for a 12v/240v dometic brand model for a couple of hundred But there are heaps of other brands and models out there at varying costs :ok:

[Fulvio]

I have absolutely NO idea what type of plastic

"High Barrier Shrink Vacuum Bags
The amount of shelf life enhanced by a vacuum bag is dependent on the structure in the material. A standard vacuum bag is composed of a PA/PE structure where PA is for puncture resistance and PE is for sealing. The high barrier category includes the usage of more layers focused on the prevention of oxygen permeability, and therefore shelf life protection. There are two materials used in high barrier structures, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Shelf life indication can be effectively measured by how many cubic centimeters of oxygen can permeate through 1 square meter of material over a 24-hour period. A standard PA/PE bag allows on average 100 cubic centimeters, PVDC allows on average over 10, and EVOH on average 1 cubic centimeter. Multi-layer structures allow the ability to use strong oxygen-barrier materials for enhanced shelf life protection. The PremiumPack structure is a good example of EVOH based high barrier shrink material."

The PA is Polyamide, aka Nylon. PE is Polyethylene, probably LDPE, maybe LLDPE. So the bag is exactly the same as a coin bag, except it has an outer Nylon skin for strength. Permeability will be lower than a standard LDPE bag, because of both the thickness and the Nylon skin:



But then it has to be, doesn't it? Pretty pointless vacuum-sealing a steak if all the Oxygen sneaks back in overnight, right? :dodgy:

Oh, and be aware that anaerobic bacteria love a vacuum. This is mostly a problem for food, and the reason you can't leave the pack in the fridge forever, but it might be a problem for coins too. No idea if there are bacteria that attack CuNi or AlBr, but here's a wiki page about iron:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_anaerobic_corrosion

[trout]

Most of that went straight over the top of my head Mate :angel:
Is there anything in the plastic itself that will hurt coins

[Fulvio]

Is there anything in the plastic itself that will hurt coins

No.

Its pretty simple really. LDPE is your standard-issue soft plastic bag, as used in coin bags from the mint, Armaguard or ziplocks. It bonds really well, so its perfect for heat sealing.

Unfortunately, as I've documented a couple of times, it also sucks at keeping gasses and moisture in/out. So, they layer it with Nylon, which IS good at that, but sucks at sealing. And if the Nylon isn't good enough, then they put extra layers of other materials in the middle to make it super-efficient.

That simple enough? :angel: