A microenvironment is an enclosed space with
an airtight seal that controls RH with desiccants
such as silica gel (See “Using Silica Gel in
Microenvironments,” COG 1/8) or montmorillonite
clay. These remove excess RH from
the enclosed space. A dry microenvironment
can help stabilize actively corroding metals
and protect metal objects from exposure to
high RH. This storage solution also provides
localized passive environmental control for all
metal objects by reducing risk of exposure to
RH spikes. Because it does not use complex
mechanical systems, it is a low cost way to isolate
metals in a dry climate within a larger environment.
Microclimate boxes can be readily
set up within a storage area that houses other
materials with different RH requirements.