How To Store And Display Awards.

[Pobeda45]

Yeah, I take a SAFLIP (a PVC-free coin flip that is safe on metal), cut it in two, and put each half on a medal in a bar:
2x2 Saflip Coin Flips
2" x 2" is generally big enough for all orders with the exception of Glory, etc. (use 2.5"x2.5" for that) It's not perfect, but this way the medals don't rub against each other and won't discolor either. :thumbsup

George

[travel-north]

I buy these as the seller claims they will not tarnish or discolor medals:
Worldwide Militaria, LLC: Medal Sleeves

However, I question the seller's statement that the envelopes will not cause tarnish simply because they are non-acidic...PVC is the real problem with plastic and this seems to be the kind of soft plastic that does contain PVC. :confused

Groups on a bar are actually easier for me to store: I put a non-PVC "SAFLIP" plastic sleeve on each medal and put the entire thing into an acid-free paper envelope.

George

What is PVC?

[CtahhR]

Polyvinyl chloride. Chlorine and Medals don't mix!

[Pobeda45]

Exactly right. Polyvinyl chloride - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyone who's a coin collector here has seen the effects of PVC in coins. Plastic that contains PVC isn't stable, releases gas into its environment (usually a rule of thumb is, the harder and stiffer the plastic, the better), and tarnishes metal. Copper and copper alloys are most affected; silver is affected as well. The harmful effects include greenish film and tarnish, which can become permanent.

[Bob]

Exactly right. Polyvinyl chloride - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyone who's a coin collector here has seen the effects of PVC in coins. Plastic that contains PVC isn't stable, releases gas into its environment (usually a rule of thumb is, the harder and stiffer the plastic, the better), and tarnishes metal. Copper and copper alloys are most affected; silver is affected as well. The harmful effects include greenish film and tarnish, which can become permanent.

So thin ziplock bags are also not a good idea? It's how I have most of my items stored (before they're placed into old shoe boxes (and then in "the vault").

[medals73]

So thin ziplock bags are also not a good idea? It's how I have most of my items stored (before they're placed into old shoe boxes (and then in "the vault").

Actually, no. (And I do the same thing.) But I'm told by those who understand the chemistry better than I that they're better than those medal envelopes, as there is more air circulation to mitigate the outgassing damage and less direct contact with the plastic.

[UQWozza]

Plus a lot of boxes are made from bleached materials which can also leach out acids.

So again you need to be careful!

Simon

[Pobeda45]

Look for bags made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). (Contrary to the name, it actually doesn't contain harmful Polyethylene ) A common name for PET is Mylar. Also known as "safe plastic," it's much better for prolonged storage.

[UQWozza]

The ones I use are made from Melinex 518 polyester which is guaranteed to withstand 500 years of artificial ageing at 105 degrees Celsius & 50% relative humidity without releasing any harmful chemicals.

Simon

[travel-north]

Thanks everybody. That's very good info.

Is polypropylene safe? I read that it's inert.

Is there any way to test if plastic is safe by using chemicals instead of waiting for months to see whether it reacts? Do we have any chemists on the forum?