The storage of videotape is complicated by the continuing debate about whether to save the artifact as long as possible or only long enough so that it can be migrated to another format to ward off obsolescence. For archives and libraries lacking sufficient resources to reformat their tapes, extended storage remains viable as a preservation strategy only as long as the playback technology remains accessible. The chemical breakdown of videotape binders or coatings due to hydrolysis has been well documented. The binders absorb atmospheric moisture and release acids and alcohols that act as catalysts hastening deterioration. Acids may be present from the tape itself or contracted from common pollutant gases.
Aged tapes are more hygroscopic than newer tapes in their ability to absorb moisture.
Hydrolysis weakens the binder causing particle shedding, dropouts, and eventual loss of the tape through severe degradation. High temperatures can also cause damage such as increased tape tightness, pressure, distortion, dropouts from wound in debris, layer to layer adhesion, changes in dimensions, all of which promote tracking errors.