Paper and film disintegrate over time if not stored appropriately and conserved continuously.

Disintegration can be summed up in five points:

• Disintegration due to bad storage conditions in the past and the present
• Damage due to physical wear and tear through handling, usage and transport
• Paper disintegration of manuscripts due acid ink
• Disintegration due to use of acid, wood-pulp paper, used from about 1840
• Extremely self-destructive materials such as nitrate and acetate film