Cel Nexus — where science, art, and preservation connect.

Animation cels weren’t built for permanence. Most acetate‑based cels (cellulose acetate or cellulose triacetate, CTA) slowly break their ester bonds over time. Even in good storage, film‑preservation studies show vinegar syndrome (VS) can begin in roughly 38–50 years. Because many cels were made between the 1960s–1990s—and often lived years in less‑than‑ideal conditions—plenty are already in the risk window.

Once VS starts, it’s autocatalytic: the acetic acid that forms lowers local pH inside the plastic, which accelerates further hydrolysis. In the early “stable” phase, there’s little free acid and change is slow. As acid accumulates, the polymer’s buffering is overwhelmed, the internal pH drops, and the process accelerates.

Engineering controls (cooling, RH control, scavenging) slow the outward symptoms but can’t instantly undo internal pH drift or the diffusion time it takes for acids to leave the cel. That’s why monitoring matters: AD‑strip color, odor/ppm checks, and basic logging provide an early warning that you’re approaching the accelerating phase.

The truth: Deacetylation (chemical aging) is inevitable, but Vinegar Syndrome (the runaway destruction) is not. With the right engineering controls, you can keep a cel in the stable 'drift' phase indefinitely, preventing it from ever reaching the autocatalytic tipping point.

Preservation isn't binary—it's a spectrum of risk. We've developed the industry's first engineering framework that maps storage conditions directly to expected lifespan. Whether you use a binder or a cold vault, our Tier System helps you calculate exactly how much time you are buying for your art.

Learn more in our detailed framework: Read the Cel Nexus Preservation Tiers Guide.