Short Term Vacuum Packing Pouches

Suitable for disaster recovery processes such as our unique drying system for water damaged material which we recently developed for use with our ArchiPress ™ machines.

These low cost bags are supplied especially for use with the new method of drying waterlogged or damp material identified by Stuart Welch and developed with the assistance of Dr. Nicholas Hadgraft. The pouches do not need the same level of barrier for this application since the vacuum is only required for a short time. Stuart discovered that vacuum sealed wet objects quickly transfer moisture to any dry absorbent material such as blotting paper, until the object and the blotter are equally moist. At this stage the bag is opened the wet blotter is replaced by dry blotter and the bag is vacuum sealed again. This process is repeated until the object, book etc. reaches the required dryness. The technique has proved remarkably effective with books because the bindings are held under pressure, which means they dry without any swelling, fracture or distortion of the binding structure. While held in the vacuum pouches the wet material is unaffected by mould growth because of the lack of oxygen. If wet material is to be stored for longer periods use the Archi Press High Barrier Pouches.

For further information click here: Drying and Humidification Using Packing and Anoxic Enclosures: Stuart Welch

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Vacuum Packing and its implications for Conservation and Preservation of Library, Archive and Related Materials