--- title: "Storage Materials: Buffered vs. Unbuffered" description: Discover the difference between buffered and unbuffered storage materials for preserving your artifacts. 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Search # Storage Materials: Buffered vs. Unbuffered ![Storage Materials: Buffered vs. Unbuffered](https://info.gaylord.com/hubfs/Blog_AK/BufferedVsUnbuffered3.png) When shopping for archival-quality products, you'll encounter the terms buffered and unbuffered. It's important to determine which is the best for the items you are preserving. Gaylord offers a wide selection of both buffered and unbuffered storage materials. ## Buffered Materials Storage materials described as "buffered" have an alkaline substance, usually calcium carbonate, added as an alkaline reserve or buffer to counteract acids that may form in the material in the future. Cellulose fibers such as cotton, flax, linen and jute, as well plant-based specimens, can be stored in buffered material. Storing cellulose artifacts in buffered materials will protect against migrant acidity from the artifacts. ### Objects Best Stored in Buffered Materials - Paper - Newspapers - Photographs - Ceramics - Plant specimens - # [![Gaylord Archival® Buffered Acid-Free Tissue](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/BT30405-1.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=BT30405-1.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Buffered Acid-Free Tissue](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Artifact-%26-Collectibles-Preservation/Labeling-%26-Supplies/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Buffered-Acid-Free-Tissue-%28100-Pack%29/p/HYB01353) - # [![Gaylord Archival® Newspaper Preservation Kit](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/NPK18133B-1.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=NPK18133B-1.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Newspaper Preservation Kit](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Document-Preservation/Storage-Boxes/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Newspaper-Preservation-Kit/p/HYB02335) - # [![Gaylord Archival® High-Capacity Barrier Board Photo Box with Envelopes](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/PB1215BE-1.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=PB1215BE-1.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® High-Capacity Barrier Board Photo Box with Envelopes](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Archival-Storage-Boxes/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-High-Capacity-Barrier-Board-Photo-Box-with-Envelopes/p/HYB09563) - # [![Gaylord Archival® Buffered Print Folders](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/PF810.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=PF810.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Buffered Print Folders](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Photo%2C-Print-%26-Art-Preservation/Envelopes%2C-Sleeves-%26-Protectors/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-10-pt-Print-Folders-%2810-Pack%29/p/HYB01701) ## Unbuffered Materials Any artifacts that contain animal proteins are best stored in unbuffered material. Protein-based materials include wool and silk, as well as animal-based natural history collections, leather-bound books, and textile details such as pearls. When textiles contain both cellulose and protein fibers, contain unknown dyes, or have unknown fiber content, choose unbuffered material. Blueprints should never come in contact with buffered material, and many archivists also prefer to store albumen prints and cyanotypes in unbuffered material. When in doubt, unbuffered is a safe choice for any object. ### Objects Best Stored in Unbuffered Materials - Wool - Leather - Parchment - Silk - Pearls - Feathers - Animal specimens - Blueprints - Cyanotypes - Albumen and dye transfer prints - Mixed and unknown materials - Textiles with unknown dyes - Protein-based materials Since buffering agents don’t migrate, a buffered box can be used if an unbuffered layer, such as unbuffered tissue or polyester film, surrounds the item. - # [![Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Acid-Free Shredded Tissue](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/SAT001.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=SAT001.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Acid-Free Shredded Tissue](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Artifact-%26-Collectibles-Preservation/Labeling-%26-Supplies/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Unbuffered-Acid-Free-Shredded-Tissue/p/SAT001) - # [![Gaylord Archival® Rare Book/Family Bible Unbuffered Preservation Kit](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/RBP8-BG-1.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=RBP8-BG-1.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Rare Book/Family Bible Preservation Kit](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Book-%26-Pamphlet-Preservation/Book-Boxes-%26-Covers/Storage-Boxes/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Rare-Book-Family-Bible-Unbuffered-Preservation-Kit/p/HYB09683) - # [![Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Extra-Large Costume & Dress Preservation Kit](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/184010KT.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=184010KT.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Extra-Large Costume & Dress Preservation Kit](https://www.gaylord.com/Preservation/Textile-Preservation/Storage-Boxes/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Unbuffered-Blue-Grey-Barrier-Board-Extra-Large-Costume-%26amp%3B-Dress-Preservation-Kit/p/184010KT) - # [![Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Deep Lid Textile Roll Storage Box](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/2446-1.jpeg?width=538&height=538&name=2446-1.jpeg) Gaylord Archival® Unbuffered Deep Lid Textile Roll Storage Box](https://www.gaylord.com/Textile/Gaylord-Archival%26%23174%3B-Blue-Grey-Barrier-Board-Deep-Lid-Textile-Roll-Storage-Box/p/HYB02329)   ##### ![Many archival storage materials come in buffered or unbuffered. Which should you use to preserve your object?](https://info.gaylord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1806-03-CBufferedvsUnbufferedInfographicLogo.png?width=416&height=1157&name=1806-03-CBufferedvsUnbufferedInfographicLogo.png) [![DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3977210/interactive-149922463518.png)](https://info.gaylord.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLITJRnmCnlR2m5JmFFrcz0m1h%2BZ5QJoWAdiE3RnEgnjNtPpWddGAhFL2nH3wDPrJoVYGgprzBfo2Q9svh3Oa7n7GGUd%2B8%2Bys3O3bsMbsQSO8D1AuxfCXyUtaMsTMYnwCFSWttS%2BFoPEhl0EUv0iekvcZho0pzJfulVCq4g0vVhaG%2Ftzgze6wa3Mk8YGaHsaMU7oQ1rpOYowFVhq3jmv4LpHL%2FAK4mXEV%2BZoqu0ESb8S9mxnDlOutgBuZg1kd6Hs8wOd5BK6hWje%2BA%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=149922463518&portalId=3977210) ### Share: [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://info.gaylord.com/resources/buffered-or-unbuffered&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [Share on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://info.gaylord.com/resources/buffered-or-unbuffered&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://info.gaylord.com/resources/buffered-or-unbuffered&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://info.gaylord.com/resources/buffered-or-unbuffered&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Storage%20Materials:%20Buffered%20vs.%20Unbuffered) [Photos](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/photos), [Books](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/books), [Documents](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/documents), [Archival Basics](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/archival-basics), [Preservation](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/preservation), [Garments & Textiles](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/garments-textiles), [Collectibles & Artifacts](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/collectibles-artifacts), [Media](https://info.gaylord.com/resources/tag/media) ## Related posts Resources provided here are based on general circumstances. 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