Storing electronic devices inside cardboard boxes (like shoe boxes) along with newspapers, office paper, or A4 paper – will the cardboard and these papers release acidic fumes that corrode the PCB and the connections of the devices?
I read something about these materials having some kind of acid in their composition.
I’ve stored for decades, no corrosion detected. I’ve worked for a couple of years as an archivist, using acid-free papers and containers, but the articles to be stored are often a source of fumes, as you point out. It’s just that the amount of fumes that can affect readability of a paper article is tiny compared to the amount of fumes needed to further etch a PCB or connectors. It’s a matter of dosage. The papers have a greater surface area and will likely take damage first. For testing, use an elevated temperature oven, and see how it goes at higher temperatures and shorter times. There are algorithms and practices that support age testing that could be deployed to indicate likely results.
Here at my house, in a 24-hour period without rain, the temperature varies between 31-38°C and humidity between 55-66%. Is this very bad and critical for storing long-time electronic devices because papers, cardboard boxes, newspapers all release acid vapors or direct contact papers or cardboard in metal parts generate corrode and oxide pcb devices
Good point. Here, 25-30°C inside average 35% RH, 10-40°C outside, average 20% RH. You may have more interesting impacts from VOC, where the ends of the long chains fray and the molecules wander around until they find something to react with. The plastics of the PCB mask, conformal coating and components are affected. But still, not much. Store PCBs long term in sealed glass enclosures with those little moisture capturing things, or buy cat litter treatment in bulk at your supermarket or pet store. Be sure to test, as PCB production methods vary. Most PCB houses are not targeting product longevity unless they are asked to.
my situation is critical?
Thanks, that’s interesting. I’ve checked your previous posts since December 2024, and you do seem unusually concerned about storage of consumer product antiques from early 1990s, LCD panels, and NAND flash.
Our focus here is more generally on the process of engineering electronics, and while longevity is a subject area in that, we aren’t really talking much on novel approaches to undo the obsolescence patterns of the past.
Your best bet would be to work with a computing history museum and curators there, to share experiences.
It may be safer to discard old products, as they convey risks from materials we have since learned to avoid, such as lead, plasticisers, and fire retardants. There are some good emulators now.
@ChrisGammell are AIs having full on conversations here? This smells fishy.
Ah, the latest insult for my writing badly. 
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