MicroChamber® Paper is specially constructed with dispersed molecular traps that remove and neutralize acids, pollutants and the harmful by-products of deterioration. It also eliminates odours such as smoke, mold and mildew. We would recommend placing a sheet inside the front and back cover of a valuable comic before bag/boarding it.
It is very thin, nearly transparent, and contains zeolites which allows it to remove pollutants, both airborne and those released by the collection itself. Zeolites are molecular sieves that are imbedded into paper or paperboard. Zeolites trap gaseous pollutants either present in the environment or those produced by the deterioration of the artefact. Testing has shown that paper artefacts and photographic prints enclosed in papers containing zeolites are provided additional protection.
It is important to note that MicroChamber® Paper will not stop active mold and mildew. Please contact a conservator to have your item treated if you have this issue and keep the affected item away from other objects to prevent the spread. If the problem is simply an odour, MicroChamber® Paper is a viable solution. Some sites advise replacing every 7 years.
Acid migration is another issue solved by the use of MicroChamber® Paper. Acid tends to spread when two objects are within close proximity. For example, comic books, by their very nature, contain and release acidic off-gas which often stains its colour onto the acid-free backing board. Stable plastic materials that do not produce off-gas are ideal for housing collections, easing handling, and providing support.
MicroChamber® paper is currently available from Bags Unlimited in the United States. Our Stalward Interleaving Rag-board range, while slightly thicker, has the same MicroChamber® technology; its increased thickness provides structural integrity to the comic.
Refer to the following link for an interesting PH test on MicroChamber® paper!
References
https://cool.conservation-us.org/waac/wn/wn18/wn18-1/wn18-106.html
https://www.bagsunlimited.com/category/41/comic-backing-boards-microchamber-paper