JAIC 1993, Volume 32, Number 1, Article 7 (pp. 81 to 92)

PROTECTION OF ARCHIVAL MATERIALS FROM POLLUTANTS: DIFFUSION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE THROUGH BOXBOARD

CHARLES M. GUTTMAN, & KENNETH L. JEWETT

ABSTRACT—The diffusion of sulfur dioxide, a common atmospheric pollutant, through boxboards used to make up archival storage boxes has been measured, and diffusion constants were calculated from the resulting data. For the most common boxes used by the National Archives and Records Administration, a diffusion constant of about 0.001 cm2/sec is measured for SO2 in the concentration range 10–150 ppm. For this 15-fold change in gas concentration, less than 25% variation in the calculated diffusion constant was found. These results are discussed in terms of Passaglia's model of the microenvironment provided by these boxboards as used in archival storage.

Article Sections:

1. INTRODUCTION
2. EXPERIMENTAL
3. THE MEASUREMENT OF DIFFUSION CONSTANT
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5. CONCLUSIONS
a: Materials , References , Author Information

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