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How do you test new materials?

I got this gift set for Christmas... and I know it's kid quality type stuff, but that started me thinking. How do you test for archivability? I mean, materials have to be acid free as well as the paper you work with, correct? Outside of litinus (sp?) paper, is there anyway to test new materials?

(In case anyone else's Google-fu is stronger then mine, I got a gift set of Faber-Castell 12 Gel sticks. Water Solvable somewhat, and acts very much like a soft pastel)

Faber Castell doesn't equaate as 'kid stuff' in my program XD

Well, maybe, but it's listed under the Kids Supplies side of their website. So that's what makes me want to test before I become too attached to it.

there's two things you usually look for when concerned about "archivalness": acidity and lightfastness.

acidity/ph levels refer to both paint and paper/substrate. "acid free" or "ph neutral" means the ph levels are at 7 (or a little higher). this is ideal for art papers, which many quality paper are. papers that are not "acid free" are susceptible to yellowing/browning, and becoming brittle with age and exposure to sunlight. the lower the ph level, the higher the acidity. newsprint is about ph 4.5, making it acidic, thus yellowing with age.

lightfastness refers to how well a pigment withstands direct exposure to uv rays. most quality paints will have a grading system that gives you a rough idea what their lightfastness is. most student/young hobby materials won't, and most usually are not formulated to be.

here are a couple links about conducting your own lightfast experiments:
http://painting.about.com/od/colourtheory/ht/lightfastness.htm
http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/pigmt9.html

if you're looking to get the most out of materials that may not be archive safe, be sure to use ph neutral papers (most art stores list those features) and that the art is stored away from direct sunlight (or is protected behind uv resistant glass or has been fixed with a uv varnish) and away from acidic materials (this means cardboard, newsprint, and most office material. usually it will not be acid free unless the product mentions it is).

some archival materials:
uv-resistant spray coat: http://www.dickblick.com/zz217/03a/
make it acid free spray: http://www.dickblick.com/zz128/96/

This isn't the best solution to your problem, but a fun fact. If you really need(or want) to test for acidity and have no access to litmus paper, you can use purple cabbage as a test. Just boil the cabbage(it has to be the purple kind), until the water is deep purple and put your substance into it. Acidic substances will turn it red and basic will turn it blue. It is not as sensitive as litmus paper, so it has to be a pretty strong acid or base to turn it. Try lemon juice or baking soda!

(there are some perks to being a science teacher's daughter! ;3 )

Why not contact them on their website? There is that option and with a little waiting it seems a good idea.