Ginger-  I recently participated in an experiment with how items and
storage materials burn.  A piece of Tyvek was draped over some of the
"artifacts."  When the room was set on fire, the tyvek didn't seem to be
all that fire retardent- in fact, it burned and left strange little tyvek
bubbles that were not removable, on the artifacts.  Plus, we found a
strange, unidentifyable material between the artifact and tyvek.  It could
have been created from the tyvek during the burn.  No one knew what it was
or how it got there- including the person who set up the burn room.  I
thought I'd pass that info along.

Arlyn Danielson

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From:   Ginger M. Young[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, June 23, 1998 7:00 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: polyethylene sheeting

i believe it can also trap moisture.  i have worked for a museum that has
used
Tyvek to drape over open shelving, etc. as a protective barrier against
light
and dust.  Tyvek is also fire retardent...