I used the ThermaCare packets as an intentional renegade anoxic 
treatment for already infested woolens.  Having seen the product at the 
drugstore promoting its air-activated heat therapy and reading on the 
box that it contained packets of the same materials found in Ageless 
sachets, I bought a box to examine the contents, which did look 
confirmingly like the gravel found in Ageless  sachets.  Since Ageless 
has its primary use in the food industry, it seemed likely that this 
was another, cross-over use , I decided to try it for anoxic 
treatments..  And it DID work as a scavenger it what appeared to be 
identical reactions to laboratory/workshop use of Ageless with EVOH 
plastic film:  Immediate buildup of heat in the packet, followed by a 
decompression of the Space Bag and a cooling of the ThermaCare patch to 
room temp, all within an hour.  Since the patch was guaranteed for 8 
hours of air-activated heat, this leads me to think that this is an 
air-tight enclosure.  However, I do not know how long this environment 
lasts- or if air slowly leaks in, what the permeability of the plastic 
is.

I've always though that "one day" I'd get on the phone and get more 
info from the manufactures of both products.....
On Jan 14, 2005, at 9:44 AM, Frisina, Ann wrote:

> Just trying to fully understand the treatment.  Are you promoting the 
> hatching of moths and beetles by inserting the Therma Care heat packs 
> and then starving them of oxygen? 
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On 
> Behalf Of Jane Hammond
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Space Bags
>
> I've also wondered the same. I have used them to store my own woolens 
> and have also experimented, successfully, with non-traditional anoxic 
> treatments on some bug-fested sweaters, using Space Bags and 
> ThermaCaret air-activated heat packs sold in the drug stores for 
> sports injuries. The pacs appear to contain the same ingredients as 
> Ageless (see below) and certainly have the same granular feel both 
> before and after exhaustion of materials. Plus, the adhesive side 
> designed to stick to your back allows the very warm packet to be 
> attached to whichever side becomes "top" in the SpaceBag, away from 
> the object. So far, the SpaceBags have provided an airtight seal - at 
> least for the 8-hour life of the packets-and the packet/packets 
> deactivated (cool down) within 30 min.
>
>
>  I mentioned this bit of Outsider Treatment to some textile 
> conservators at a recent regional meeting but haven't really had time 
> to really pursue the possibilities or do the investigative work 
> needed. Any feedback or ideas would be greatly appreciated . If proved 
> safe, it would great to know emergency help for infestations was as 
> close as the local drugstore.
>
>
>  Jane Hammond
>
>
>  Here's info about ThermaCare I just pulled up:
>
>
> ThermaCare is an innovative topical heat therapy that provides pain 
> relief combined with long-lasting deep muscle relaxation. Each 
> ThermaCare HeatWrap has a heat pack area composed of oval heat discs 
> (ThermaCells) that contain iron, carbon, sodium chloride, sodium 
> thiosulfate, and water. When these heat cells are exposed to 
> atmospheric air, they undergo an exothermic oxidative reaction that 
> produces detectable levels of heat (40°C) for up to eight hours.
>  On Jan 13, 2005, at 3:08 PM, Mary Ballard wrote:
>
>
>  Hi everyone: Our shy & retiring computer administrator Mignon (who 
> keeps us
>  organized) sent us this query & there seems to be a lot of interest, 
> so I
>  hope everyone will think about it & respond to the list, with cc:'s 
> to the
>  originators.
>
>
>  "Mignon Erixon-Stanford" <[log in to unmask]> 01/13/05 02:18PM >>>
>  Question for the textiles experts...
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Kiersten Latham" <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: <[log in to unmask]>
>  Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:01 PM
>  Subject: Re: Space Bags
>
>
>
>  I am VERY interested in this question too. Amazingly, I was just
>  thinking
>  similar thoughts earlier this week!
>
>
>  Kiersten F. Latham, Collection Manager
>  Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center
>  1100 N. Plum Hutchinson, KS 67501
>  620-662-2305 x309
>
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: Registrars Committee of the AAM on behalf of Susan Smyer
>  Sent: Thu 1/13/2005 11:51 AM
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Subject: Space Bags
>
>
>  Good morning everyone,
>
>
>  I need to store large numbers of sheet, pillowcases and wool blankets
>  for lengthy periods of time and I don't have much climate-controlled
>  space for storage. Have any of you used Space Bags that vacuum out air
>  and compress the bags? They are made from polyethylene and nylon which
>  is probably OK to use, but I would like to know if they off-gas or do
>  anything horrible to textiles.
>
>
>  Thanks for your help.
>
>
>  Susan Smyer
>  Collections Manager
>  Battleship TEXAS SHS
>  3527 Battleground Rd.
>  La Porte, TX 77571
>  (281) 479-2431 ex.239
>  [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>  Mary W. Ballard
>  Senior Textiles Conservator
>  Smithsonian Center for Materials Research & Education
>  4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD 20746 USA
>  tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
>  email: [log in to unmask]