Are there any plastics experts here? I’m thinking about storing some pencils in narrow, transparent polypropylene bags. Is there a risk of this plastic reacting with the plastic barrels of the pencils? As far as I know polypropylen is food-safe and inert and does not release any plasticisers so I think it is safe. However, I have seen some strange and surprising reactions with plastics. Does anyone have any experience with this?
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I would contact companies or retailers selling materials for conservation purposes, like the ones used in libraries and museums, often for bookbinding or poster restoration (Talas in the US, Ratchford in UK, Leo’s Nachfolger or Schmedt in Germany, and a few independent producers all over the world I have seen on YT videos or documentaries); in my view, those are the people to email for such a type of question, as they deal daily with plastic having very strict requirements, and very low levels of interaction with the material they envelop.
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I’ve used polypropylene bags for storing pens and pencils, and generally, they’re pretty safe since they’re inert and don’t release any plasticizers. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more archival-grade protection, polyester bags might be a better option. The Library of Congress recommends them for storing paper documents, and the same reasoning applies here—they’re super stable, durable, and chemically inert, so ideal for long-term storage.
That said, the chances of pencils reacting with polyester are really low. But if you want to be extra cautious (especially if you’re thinking about really long-term archival), you could wrap each pencil in acid-free archival paper or tissue before putting it in the bag. That would add a bit of extra protection, though polyester alone should be fine for most cases. If you do end up using a paper wrap, you might want to label the outside of the bag so you know what’s inside, since you won’t be able to see the pencil.
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Thank you @Leonov and @Knockologist for the details and the suggestions – this is very helpful!
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