Issue with using graded card bags

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Posted By: Doug

Has anyone had any problems with the plastic graded card bags? I've tried several different brands and they all seem to leave some kind of haze on the holders after a fairly short period of time. It's almost like a chemical reaction of some sort with the surface of the holder because whatever it is won't come off once it's on there. If anyone else has had this problem or knows of a brand that doesn't have this issue please let me know.

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Posted By: Brian T.

I use BCW Graded Card Sleeves and have never had that problem. What brand are you using?

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Posted By: Doug

I was using Ultra Pro and then switched to Cardboard Gold. Both seem to have an oily feeling to them. I remember when I used to collect comic books that you shouldn't use the polypropylene bags because they had some kind of chemical residue on them and that you should use mylar bags instead. I wonder if anyone makes mylar card bags?

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Posted By: Doug

Here's a bit of info I pulled off a comic supply site regarding the chemicals in the bags:

"In recent years polypropylene bags have been sold under the guise of being archivally sound. This is far from the truth. Only uncoated and untreated material is suitable for archival protection. Currently, the only way to seal polypropylene is to add a substance called PVDC (Polyvinyl Dichloride which is a relative of PVC) to allow the material to be heat sealed. Therefore, once you add the harmful additive, the sleeve now becomes non archival and should not be used for long term storage."

Apparently this PVDC/PVC coating in the bags is the stuff that's rubbing off on the holders and causing the cloudy spots.