Digital BW, The Print

Alpha cellulose is a mat material and buffered is a material 
treatment so you cant really compare them. Novacore is a paper mat 
product which means that it is made from naturally acid wood pulp. It 
is treated with calcium carbonate (TUMS), to temporarily shift the pH 
balance from acid to alkaline. Over time it will return to its normal 
acidic pH balance.  It is considered for use in temporary framing. 
Alpha Cellulose is an inert product that over time can become 
contaminated with acid compounds. For that reason it is often 
buffered, and in Bainbridge's case it is also treated with their 
Artcare process. The Artcare process allows it to actively neutralize 
acidic compounds entering the frame package so that instead of the 
mat just being neutral, it actually actively protects the art. I have 
more information about different mat board types on my website here:

http://www.framedestination.com/picture_frame_info.html#mat_types

Cheers,
Mark


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Richard 
Smallfield <r.smallfield@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I am about to get into mat cutting and wondered what experiences 
people have of the longevity of buffered acid-free mat boards (like 
Bainbridge Novacore) as opposed to Alpha Cellulose boards (like 
AlphaMat).
> 
> thanks,
> Richard
> --
> http://smallfield.vze.com
> 
>    "Ignorance is a voluntary misfortune."
>    --Nicholas Ling
>