Experts warn sealed time capsules risk internal chemical damage from mixed materials
The Library's preservation team warned that hermetic sealing prevents water intrusion but can cause harmful off‑gassing among papers, plastics and metals; the team used a green/amber/red system and asked contributors to modify or reissue items to reduce risk.
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Library of Congress preservation staff described a less obvious but serious long‑term hazard for sealed time capsules: chemical interactions and off‑gassing among different materials. "It's essentially stewing in its own juices," the presenter said, illustrating how aging paper emits furfural or acetic acid that can tarnish coins and damage other objects.
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