A very comprehensive article about anoxic treatment is, "A low tech
method for insect eradication using Ageless" by Jon Brandon and Gordon
Hanlon, AIC/WAG, 2003. Unfortunately I have not been able to find this
article in the WAG online archives during a brief search this morning,
to share with this posting. There are numerous Instances in the AIC
distlist archives about anoxic treatment, in various applications.
Use of the ThermaCare as an oxygen scavenger has been a quick fix and
certainly took care of my emergency. I also use the bags and packets
to store small rugs and have also isolated small packets of old books
that appeared to be infested with mites. The bags do not have to be
radically compressed to be effective and there is a certain degree of
shrinkage and tightening of the bag from the reduction of oxygen. The
exothermic reaction definitely kills critters and the bags have
remained deflated over two years, in the case of the books, suggesting
that air is not air leaking in. However, this is not a recommended
recipe and needs some delving into.
I assume that Mitsubishi Gas Corporation is still the proprietary
source of this material. They market packets of iron and potassium
chloride (Ageless) in several different compositions which are used for
a range of differing uses. Some formultions will scavenge larger
volumes of oxygen and are rated (Z-100, Z-1000, etc.) to incidate the
mililiters of oxygen which the packet can scavenge. If the packets are
designed for open air use , vs encapsulation or container, I suspect
they are formulated for a higher RH.
And what about the oxygen permeability of Space Bags? Less than 0.1%
is the requirement for low oxygen fumigations, in most studies I have
read.
On Jan 13, 2005, at 10:13 PM, Snug, Comforts for your Home wrote:
>
> Jane
>
> Could you give some more info on how this works to kill wool moths &
> larvae. I am sure I am not the only one on the list interested in
> this method for some of our personal textiles, even if it isn't tested
> for conservation care.
>
> Thanx
>
> Sheldon
>
> On Thursday, January 13, 2005, at 06:50 PM, Jane Hammond wrote:
>
>> 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]
>>>
> Snug
> Comforts for your Home
>
> Studio 413
> Park Trades Center
> 326 West Kalamazoo Ave.
> Kalamazoo, MI
> 49007
>
> Phone: 269 330-2305
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Please note the new email address.
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> PLEASE CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS BOOKS AND MAILING LIST AND START USING THE
> NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. THANX
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> The old one is still active, but I am going to be switching over at
> some point and want people to start using the new one.
>
> Sheldon Schwitek
> 1738 Commonwealth Ave.
> Kalamazoo, MI.
> 49006
>
> Ph: 269 345-9002
> Cell: 269 330-2305
>
> email: [log in to unmask]
>
> We cannot in fairness rail against those
> who destroy the rain forest or
> threaten the spotted owl
> when we have made our own yards
> uninhabitable.
>
> from "Noah's Garden" by Sara Stein
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