Can PVC record sleeves degrade your vinyl?

Interesting , Richard. I have quite a few 800g sleeves, Sticky Finger ( that damn zipper!), but never had any issues. 

I haven't particularly noticed anything and just done a random check on a few LPs in Simply Vinyl PVC sleeves and they seem fine. But I will keep my eyes open.

Have a good evening,

Richard

External covers. Not in my experience. I do have a couple of Lps I bought second hand that have marks on the vinyl which do not affect sound quality but seem to be as a result of some sort of reaction to plastic inner sleeves.

I've had some similar problems with some inners, particularly Decca and Atlantic LPs, when buying secondhand where the has been a reaction with the record surface over the years, but it doesn't affect SQ. I've always used thin polypropylene outer sleeves as I've never liked the heavy weight PVC ones.

I know they are a bit cumbersome Steve,  but some of my albums would not have survived their 40/50 years plus journey if it were not for their "jackets". 

You party animal Tony. 

I've had a couple of records (some of them rare) where this happened between them and their inners. This was during shipping because of heat, which probably accelerated the reaction.

It is very audible, however - it's like having the sea constantly behind the music. A real shame. I'm replacing them as time progresses.

That is funny. I've been banging on about this danger to your precious vinyl for years. Still, some of you do like to buy as cheap as possible. You know who you are and you know best (said gloatingly). 

Some more info I came across....

"A further problem with flexible PVC is that the flexibility and softness must be induced by the addition of a large amount of plasticisers, usually phthalates, at concentrations of 30 - 50%. These phthalates may have carcinogenic properties or affect endocrinic activity in humans. They do this by mimicking the female hormone oestrogen, causing biological imbalances in humans as well as other species.

These plasticisers are mobile by nature, hence migratory. They leach out into the environment during long-term storage and into soil and aquifers after disposal. The 'mist', which accumulates on windscreens of cars containing PVC trim, is evidence of plasticiser migration. Other evidence of this instability may be seen where the print from a document migrates onto the PVC binder or file in which the document is stored.

It is impossible for these effects to occur in relation to polypropylene. The soft blend materials get their softness and flexibility from the actual molecular structure of the material, which is stable, rather than from any migratory additive."