Quote:
Originally Posted by villagetinker
Paper and cardboard products seem to deteriorate faster in the garage, I suspect the high humidity is the problem.
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Having worked in the paper industry for years, corrugated boxes will naturally deteriorate over time no matter what the environment, but rather more quickly in higher heat. It may be a new fact to most, but chemical reactions in paper continue to occur long after the paper leaves the paper making machine. It is a natural phenomenon. As paper, particularly corrugated paper products age, the fluted medium is the first to degrade because of its chemical characteristics. This causes the paper to dramatically lose strength and give the appearance of crumbling. The crumbling exposes more of the starch-based adhesive which holds the layers of paper together. It is the starch adhesive that various insects thrive on.