I’m not an art conservationist, but I’d like to build decorative box for paper cards to be stored on and around wooden shelves. I was planning to 3D print out of aluminum because of its acid vapor blocking properties.
However, it would be cheaper and prettier to use Pewter or Zinc, which I can cast at home.
But I wonder if Zinc or Pewter will still be able to block the acid from the wood? Or perhaps when Zinc or Pewter oxidize they release their own acid?
I can’t find anything on google about this topic. If anyone can provide any articles or information on the topic I would be so grateful!
I would not use either of those metals as compared to aluminum. They will all oxidize, and none will really protect against the fumes from wood. If you stay away from oak this may not be as big of a deal. Oak and some other hardwoods will off gas formic and acetic acid. Let me contact one of our preventive conservation/paper conservation experts about this as it is certain my my area of purview.
Hi! I would tend to agree with Brian, all of the metals mentioned oxidize, and I would be concerned that they could potentially be harmful to the contents of the box. A couple of thoughts: one consideration might be to line the box with ArtCare board, which has zeolites (molecular sieves) to remove some of the pollutants the paper cards could be exposed to. You can find it online in uncut and precut sheets: https://www.artcareframing.com/products/. Another thought is that any protective enclosure will buffer the cards from volatile compounds emitted by the wood – it doesn’t necessarily need to be vapor-proof. Lining the wood shelves with acid-free paper or mylar is also a protective method.
Gillian
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