UCG's Old Age

[Rafingon]

I've read on this forum that the outside plastic of the UCG's is made of PVC. That is harmfull because after a certain amount of time, PVC can liberate some gases which discolours the cover.

Does someone who have UCG's for some considerable time, like 1 or 2 years, can prove this fact? If able, post some pictures. I want to know if that is really true, because I read somewhere else that not all kinds of PVC can cause this damage.

[Arseen]

Many of us have had UGC's for years and no one has reported anything like you describe, so no worries.

[Doom]

I would look into the effects of PVC on comic books. Comic books have been around for much longer. Surely someone has tried PVC based preservation of those for extended periods of time.

[shenske]

Thats a good call Doom.

I've had UGC for about 2-3 years and my covers haven't shown any discoloration so far.  Who knows about 20 years from now but if my covers do discolor over that time period i'll just reprint them. No worries 

[tiktektak]

Jup same here. My oldest UGCs are around two to three years old and no discoloration up to now.

[AppleQueso]

any "stickiness" on the covers by any chance?

Anyhow, I don't know too much about PVC's affect on things like paper labels, but I do know that it can be pretty nasty for long term CD storage.

[ShoothimNow]

Sunlight can also lead to bleached out colors.  These covers are stored and perfected here for a reason.  If we need another, its as simple as "click, download, print"

[thesubcon3]

Way too much worrying there, sort of like the people who worry about playing burned games in their Dreamcast or Sega CD. Even if a certain brand of UGCs did discolor, it'd likely not be the entire batch. Just like the SNES discoloration problem, where mine is flawless but the one I got with my SNES Kiosk is dark yellow in spots.

The only issues I have with UGCs goes to my on negligence with using a soldering iron to melt tabs. 

[AppleQueso]

Even if a certain brand of UGCs did discolor, it'd likely not be the entire batch.

the concerns have nothing to do with a certain batch or a certain brand, it has to do with the materials used to make the cases.

[thesubcon3]

I know that much. But I also know it's not consistent either.

[Michael]

If read a post here
http://www.hoboes.com/pub/Comics/About%20Comics/Technical%20Issues/Protecting%20Comics%20Guide%201%20of%202/
It explains matrerials which can be damaging to comics, these include PolyBags which contain polypropylene or polyethylene, but im not sure what the UCG Cases are made of

[Aaagreen]

In other words, it should be perfectly fine unless you're a completely anal about everything being in perfect condition..

.. which doesn't apply to custom covers because they're all fake and can be re-printed within seconds.

[AppleQueso]

In other words, it should be perfectly fine unless you're a completely anal about everything being in perfect condition..

.. which doesn't apply to custom covers because they're all fake and can be re-printed within seconds.

This pretty  much. I doubt they pose any danger at all to the game cartridges themselves.

[BadChad]

Im not the least bit concerned...

[ShoothimNow]

Rather have a faded out copy of an original case than the actual case getting destroyed