Preservation and Storage
Currently there is no practical way of halting or reversing the course of degradation. While there has been significant research regarding various methods of slowing degradation, such as storage in molecular sieves, temperature and moisture are the two key factors affecting the rate of deterioration. According to the Image Permanence Institute, fresh acetate film stored at a temperature of 65°F (18°C) and 50% relative humidity will last approximately 50 years before the onset of vinegar syndrome. Reducing the temperature 15°, while maintaining the same level of humidity, delays the process by 150 years. A combination of low temperature and low relative humidity represents the optimum storage condition for cellulose acetate base films, however, in practice temperatures of 55°F (12°C) and a relative humidity of 35% are now being used.
Microenvironments—the conditions inside an enclosure—can also have an impact on the condition of cellulose acetate film. Enclosures that are breathable or that contain an acid absorbent are instrumental in reducing the rate of decay due to vinegar syndrome. Sealed metal containers can trap the decay products released by the film, promoting the spread of vinegar syndrome.
Read more about this topic: Cellulose Acetate Film
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)