Digital BW, The Print

Kodak's story (working from memory here) with respect to the RC cracking was
that the OBAs were originally titanium dioxide.  They put out a strong
oxidant that attacked the polyethylene and cracked it.  In response, a
number of companies put anti-oxidants in the coating to deal with this
problem, but they yellowed.  Now, presumably, there is a combination of less
reactive OBAs and non-yellowing anti-oxidants that solve the RC problems --
according to the manufacturers.

Polyethylene is apparently a broad category of materials, within which there
can be significant performance differences.  Whether what is used in the
papers is up to the job might depend on more than just what the common name
is for the material.

One industry person I spoke with thought the new technology did involve a
barrier, but it might not be polyethylene.

Lots of uncertainty here ..., but who's to say the matte paper coatings
don't have their own time bombs ticking in them.  Sadly, accelerated age
testing is even more speculative than fade testing.  Air-borne pollutants
are major and uncertain variables that can't all be predicted and tested.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com