Hi guys I’m new to this forum and I have been reading many interesting threads. Glad to have found this community.
I collect both PSA graded cards and binder ungraded cards and sealed WOTC product. Use the typical perfect fit KMC sleeves with an outer standard card sleeve.
I am by no means a chemist or archiving expert. I have read up about acid migration/outgassing/UV protection and all. I have 2 questions.
Are the adhesives used on the PSA graded sleeves safe? No offgassing from the adhesive? We do not know the composition? Yes the sleeves itself are safe due to Polypropylene.(Perfect Fit innovation sleeves/Ultra Pro graded sleeves) If it does potentially offgass, it can permeate the PSA case since it isnt’t airtight and damage the card overtime?
HCI (Hydrogen Chloride Gas) which outgasses from PVC products or even any other material such as wood/rubber/adhesives/bed/table. Do they pose a threat to our collections as these volatile compund vapours can permeate through the polypropylene and card sleeves? Even if they are not directly in contact with the collectibles. By placing our graded cards and collections in wooden boxes( the famous PSA graded card box) and other materials other than stable plastics safe?
Couldn’t really find much on the internet except Vinyl record keepers and their findings which is the potential for these gasses to damage collectibles through an inner PP/PE sleeve.
Hope to hear all your insights from the veterans in collecting here
What I’m referring to is the resealable adhesive strip on each sleeve. Depending on the composition of the adhesive, it could potentially release volatile organic compunds (VOCs) overtime? Not sure if any of you know what the adhesive strip is made of? Even then, most might say that it is not in direct contact with the PSA case, hence it is fine. Or even worse, it permeates the sleeve and unto the PSA case. Just simply send it for reholdering right? But if it permeates the case and unto the card? That I’m not too sure. Just a thought in which some of you might have better insights into, which links to the 2nd question on materials used to house our PSA graded cards such as wood and all other than archival safe plastic/acid free cardboard.
If it helps, some of my PSA cards have been in graded card sleeves since the late 90s and there’s never been any transfer or degradation at all. Maybe someone else here can confirm.
That’s an interesting topic. Like you I’m no chemist by any means but I did get an “A” in each of my Chemistry classes, so take that for what it’s worth I guess As far as whether your graded cardcases will damage the cards over time I don’t think you have anything to worry about. As long as you aren’t leaving them out in the sun or in a car for long periods of time you should be fine.
Some observational Chemistry: Lower quality plastics tend to be less chemically stable so and outgass at a higher rate (you can actually smell it). So the higher the quality, better engineered plastics lower the percent over time of potentially harmful gas emissions. The molded acrylic plastic PSA use I assume are higher quality but only their manufacturer know their exact composition.
Something more to think about is that the new PSA cases are sonicalliy and not vacuum sealed so the pressure of chemical outgassing is encouraged to the exterior. As with anything temperature speeds up outgassing so maybe avoid leaving the cases in a warm environment.
As far as the adhesive I think only PSA knows what kind it is and likely won’t be telling us any time soon in order to protect their interests and prevent case forgeries. They’ll sooner tell us that than tell us how to reglue our own cases.
This leaves out the question of whether the particular outgas chemicals are even harmful to our card stocks. That would be better for a Chemical Engineer to answer. But PSA’s 25+ years history of grading cards say with still perfectly intact cards tells us “no”. They’re completely harmless.
Thanks Gary, I guess that is some indication of the potency of the adhesive strip or whichever other factors might come into play for permeation of the gasses.
Hi jkanly! Thanks for the warm welcome hahah. It is nice to know about the outgassing being encouraged to the exterior and your take on the plastics used by PSA. I for one do not worry about the PSA cases hahah. We are kind of questioning the adhesive strips used on the graded card sleeves/one touch ultrapro sleeves etc. And even for storage of these graded cards in wooden boxes which can also offgass their additives and finishing used to refine the wood. These are my primary concerns when archiving my collection for potentially the next 50 years. I would love to get those PSA graded card boxes made of wood and all; they look really stylish and great for display but due to the build of the box being wood, I have my doubts. I am currently keeping my collection in airtight food polypropylene containers with calcium chloride dessicant to regulate the relative humidity. I only take em out for viewing when I feel like it. So just hoping to see what others have to say. Perhaps I’m being overly protective of the expensive cards when I could just leave em outside in those PSA graded card boxes to line em up nicely for viewing instead of airtight containers
Oh I see. Ok then I guess even so, if the adhesive emits highly reactive chemicals the gas would have no effect to the card inside the case. A strip of adhesive is what, maybe 150 microns thick? You would be talking about a very, very, very (did I say very?) small amount of emission. No matter what the chemical makeup the adhesive can only emit so much mass. So even if it did outgas and finally reach the paper card it can only interact with so much card surface area.
Think of it as 1 mole of compound by mass interacting with 1 mole of whatever the card compound. It equates to [some minuscule percent] of total card material, for example.
There’s just no way it could have a chance at harming the card. Especially with the 99.9% air tight PSA case design. Honestly I think you’re totally fine including with the wooden storage box which you were referring. That’s my opinion. We love our collections so I understand your concerns
As far as whether your graded cardcases will damage the cards over time I don’t think you have anything to worry about. As long as you aren’t leaving them out in the sun or in a car for long periods of time you should be fine.
