Search

As power sources for Internet-of-Things sensors, thermoelectric generators must exhibit compactness, flexibility, and low manufacturing costs. Stretchable and flexible painted thermoelectric generators were fabricated on Japanese paper using inks with dispersed p- and n-type single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The p- and n-type SWCNT inks were dispersed using the anionic surfactant of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and the cationic surfactant of dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride, respectively. The bundle diameters of the p- and n-type SWCNT layers painted on Japanese paper differed significantly; however, the crystallinities of both types of layers were almost the same. The thermoelectric properties of both types of layers exhibited mostly the same values at 30 °C; however, the properties, particularly the electrical conductivity, of the n-type layer increased linearly, and of the p-type layer decreased as the temperature increased. The p- and n-type SWCNT inks were used to paint striped patterns on Japanese paper. By folding at the boundaries of the patterns, painted generators can shrink and expand, even on curved surfaces. The painted generator (length: 145 mm, height: 13 mm) exhibited an output voltage of 10.4 mV and a maximum power of 0.21 μW with a temperature difference of 64 K at 120 °C on the hot side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kozo paper, usu-mino-gami, is frequently used as the first back lining paper of hanging scrolls in order to support the main paper with a painting or a work of calligraphy on it. To dye it an appropriate color, paper is often treated with an alkali mordant solution. However, current kozo paper products have received such comments from conservators that wet tensile strength is weak and hard to handle. Therefore, improving the wet tensile strength of kozo paper is required. In previous papers, the effect of the sheet forming method, cooking condition, and parenchyma cell content between fibers on the wet tensile strength of kozo paper has been investigated. In this paper, the effect of glucuronoxylan, the main component of hardwood hemicellulose on the wet tensile strength of kozo paper was investigated. The wet tensile strength of kozo paper, when made in different cooking conditions, was evaluated using the Finch device. Glucuronoxylan content in fiber was analyzed using GC-FID. According to the results, it has been proved that glucuronoxylan content (with a xylan to glucan molar ratio of 4.43% to 5.16%) itself contributes to the wet tensile strength of the kozo sheet. Therefore, to increase the wet tensile strength of kozo paper, it is recommended to cook under milder conditions, thus retaining a higher amount of glucuronoxylan in the pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Washi is paper made by hand from the bark of native Japanese shrubs. Washi is a common medium used for printmaking and paper crafts. Artists who have studied nagashi-zuki, a sheet-forming method unique to washi, often import Japanese fibers because alternatives with similar properties have not been identified. We propose Dirca L. (leatherwood), a shrub endemic to North America, as a source of fibers with properties similar to those plants traditionally used to make washi. The thinness and strength of the leatherwood paper allows it to withstand repeated bending, folding and creasing better than paper made from species of Wikstroemia (Japanese fiber), suggesting an alternative for use with various printmaking techniques and paper arts and crafts that involve folding, such as origami. We engaged printmakers and origami artists in creating original pieces using our leatherwood paper and evaluated how the paper responds to various printmaking techniques and complex folding. We identified Dirca mexicana as a source of fibers with similar properties to species of Wikstroemia used to make gampi washi. Handmade D. mexicana bark paper was successfully used as a paper medium for intaglio, lithography, relief, digital, and screenprinting printmaking techniques, as well as, complex folding origami sculptures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Non-invasive multi-analytical approach for characterizing Japanese papers. • SPME-GC/MS provides information on the organic substances emitted by papers and fibers. • Acetic acid and 1-butanol emission are related to the papermaking process. • N-N dimethyl formammide was emitted exclusively by industrial papers. Ketones, aldehydes and heavier alcohol were preferentially emitted by fibers and homemade papers. • Higher furfural emission from fibers place further question about the use of this compound for evaluating degradation of the paper. Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have a strong effect on cellulose degradation, contributing in decreasing the lifetime expectancy of the paper materials, widely employed in the field of conservation. In this work, we investigated several industrial and homemade Japanese papers, as well as fibers, evaluating VOCs emission by using solid-phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). Acetic acid and 1-butanol were highly detected in industrial and homemade papers rather than fibers, suggesting that the emission of these compounds is influenced by the production process more than by the raw material itself. Conversely, N-N dimethyl formammide was peculiar of industrial processes. Ketones, aldehydes and heavier alcohols were preferentially emitted by fibers and homemade papers. The higher emission of furfural from fibers rather than on papers place new questions about the use of this compound to evaluate the degradation state of the paper material that should be carefully evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water-damaged traditional Japanese paper was contaminated with mesophilic fungi. • The radiosensitivities of conidia, germinating conidia, and mycelia were determined. • Drought stress enhanced radiation sensitivity of germinating conidia and mycelia. • Even a radiation dose of 10 kGy affected the mechanical properties of paper. In this study, we investigated the effect of gamma irradiation on fungal growth and mechanical properties of the traditional Japanese paper, Kohzo-gami, infected by mesophilic fungi such as Aspergillus sydowii , Penicillium chrysogenum , and Cladosporium cladosporioides. The radiation sensitivities of dormant conidium-, germinating conidium-, and mycelium-contaminated wet and dry paper were also determined. A radiation dose capable of inactivating 50% of a 30-sample population was used for comparison. Our results showed that the 50% inactivation dose did not significantly differ between wet and dry dormant conidia. However, the survival percentage of dry dormant conidia was higher than that of wet dormant conidia at a high radiation dose. In contrast, the 50% inactivation doses for dry germinating conidia and dry mycelia were significantly lower than those for wet germinating conidia and wet mycelia, respectively. These results indicate that drought stress increased the radiation sensitivity of germinating conidia and mycelia. We also investigated the mechanical properties of Kohzo-gami irradiated at different doses. The order of the tensile strength of Kohzo-gami relative to that of control samples was as follows: 10 kGy > 30 kGy > 40 kGy. This result suggests that even a 10 kGy radiation dose can affect the mechanical properties of paper. The color change level of Kohzo-gami increased significantly at all doses; however, the National Bureau of Standards rating showed only "slight change" at all doses. The radiation doses required for fungal disinfection varied considerably depending on the fungal species and the total number of fungal cells on contaminated paper. Therefore, it was difficult to determine the standard exposure dose for treatment. However, paper sterilization might not be required, as a combination of low-dose radiation and dryness can effectively kill fungal mycelia on contaminated paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper is often damaged by ink or pigments containing transition metal ions. Damage of Kozo paper (a kind of Japanese paper) caused by iron ions from Prussian blue pigments (iron ferrocyanide) or by the acidity of dilute sulfuric acid during artificial ageing was studied. The degradation induced by iron ions is suggested to be a synergistic process consisting of hydrolytic and oxidative reactions. The degradation state of the cellulose polymer in Kozo paper was investigated using fluorescence labeling of carbonyl and carboxyl groups in combination with gel permeation chromatography-multiple-angle laser light scattering. In addition to cellulose, Kozo paper contains a relatively large amount of hemicellulose, which was characterized by determination of uronic acid and neutral carbohydrates. The amount of carboxyl groups in Kozo paper decreased during ageing. A decrease in the amount of uronic acid originating from the hemicellulose in Kozo paper is considered the dominant factor in the observed decrease of total carboxyl contents, even if the oxidative reaction would increase the number of carboxyl groups. The amount of uronic acid and xylose in hemicellulose was influenced by iron ions during ageing, indicating the decomposition of hemicellulose. This result suggested that the hemicellulose in Kozo paper were affected first and prevented the hydrolytic and oxidative degradation of cellulose, which might enable Kozo paper to last longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disappearance of bibliographic heritage is one of the biggest problems facing libraries. One of the most common methods used to restore paper, lining, is to apply a reinforcing layer to the document. This study focuses on lining papers with bacterial cellulose (BC) sheets from Gluconacetobacter sucrofermentans. For this purpose, several model papers have been selected. They have been characterized before and after the lining with this BC and a specific Japanese paper (JP) to compare both materials. Taking into account the differences between bacterial and vegetal cellulose is expected that the results may be similar to other BC and JP. The samples have been characterized before and after an aging process. There are no significant differences in some of the characteristics studied. Nevertheless, BC-lined papers present higher gloss values and b* coordinate. The wettability decreases with both BC and JP. However, in papers lined with BC, the wettability decreases more markedly and independently of the model paper used. This is related to the sealing of the surface structure by BC, which also leads to a reduction of air permeability. When the lined papers go through an aging process, there are no significant changes in any characteristic, except in b* and L* color coordinates. Additionally, the wettability rate decreases in all cases. This study indicates that papers lined with BC are stable over time. Finally, the use of BC as reinforcing material may offer advantages for specific conservation treatments, being more suitable for certain types of paper than JP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preservation of documentary heritage is one of the biggest challenges facing paper conservators today. The singular properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) lead us to propose to reinforce paper with BC sheets. In the first part of this study, the reinforcing capability of BC was tested on model papers of well-known fiber composition. The aim of the present study was to verify the suitability of rebuilding degraded old papers with BC. The degraded papers were characterized before and after the reinforcement. In addition, lined samples were characterized before and after an aging process in order to study the stability in time. The same methodology was used with Japanese paper (JP), a material commonly used by paper conservators, in order to compare both materials as reinforcement. Mechanical properties of paper lined with BC are as good as those obtained with JP. Papers lined with BC have more marked modifications on their optical properties than those restored with JP. Nevertheless, letters in books lined with BC are more legible. Moreover, only the papers restored with BC show high changes in porosity. The aging process leads to a slight decrement in burst index. Changes on tear index and optical properties with the aging process depend on the paper to be restored. This study suggests that BC improves deteriorated paper quality, without altering the information contained therein, and that this improvement is maintained over time. Hence, BC is a promising alternative material for the restoration of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the essential characteristics of the private press working on the principles laid down by William Morris was the use of hand-made paper, and in practice a proprietary paper with a distinctive watermark, such as those that were manufactured for De Zilverdistel and De Heuvelpers. Morris's rules were published in 'The Ideal Book' and could be checked from his Kelmscott Press books. They were initially followed to the letter by Dutch private presses, and prospectuses and publisher's lists attest to this. The lack of information about paper in the colophons was copied after Morris's example. However, a practical approach of printing implied that the ideal of hand-made paper was silently abandoned, when so-called hand-made Japanese papers were selected for some books, and for financial reasons papers with obsolete watermarks were used. In his printing studio, the idealistically inclined printer turned into a pragmatic artisan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verdigris (copper acetate) has been frequently used in manuscripts, early printed books and on maps. Dyes and pigments from plants have been added to modify the colour. Depending on the mode of application, paper quality, size and environmental factors like light and humidity the green colour of verdigris can discolour to brown tones and chemically damage the paper carrier. Treatment options include the application of solutions to stabilize cellulose chemically and mechanical reinforcement of the brittle or broken papers with Japanese paper and adhesives. Samples of copper acetate in gum arabic on rag paper were pre-aged to induce moderate degradation of cellulose. Deacidification, antioxidant and complexing solutions were applied by airbrush or by brush. Japanese tissue papers were coated with different aqueous or non-aqueous adhesives and applied by activation with water, ethanol or heat. The effect of the coated tissue papers was visually and mechanically evaluated before and after ageing. This contribution gives an overview of the project and focuses on mechanical stabilization and the implications of results for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term performance of the conservation–restoration treatment applied in Moroccan libraries has been questioned, to predict and rank the behavior of restored papers under extreme conditions of storage. This study was conducted to assess the effect of aging on the restoration process, in particular the aqueous de-acidification treatment. For this purpose, dry heat (at 90 ± 2 °C) and moist heat (100% of relative humidity and 90 ± 2 °C) accelerated aging tests were performed for 1, 3, 7, 21, and 28 days. Fifty samples taken from four restored Moroccan manuscript papers dating to the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries including the Japanese paper used for restoration were artificially weathered. A three-analytical approach has been selected to monitor the effects of weathering on paper components by comparing the results of virgin and artificially aged samples; the diagnosis approach is based on the use of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). ATR-FTIR spectroscopy allowed us to identify the major structural modifications of cellulose, including the alteration of the hydrogen bond network (3000–3600 cm − 1 region) and the desorption of paper residual water content indicated by the decline of the band at 1641–1647 cm − 1 in the dry heat aged samples. The oxidation of cellulose is the dominant mechanism of alteration during the moist heat process. It was shown that the crystallinity of cellulose is reduced as the bands at 1425, 1370, and 900 cm − 1 significantly decreased. XRD was used to compare the crystal phase of un-aged and aged papers and the results showed a remarkable decline in cellulose crystallinity, as evidenced by the strong decrease of crystalline index (CrI%) calculated after artificial aging. EDXRF results showed that both artificial aging tests affected the paper elemental composition, especially in what concerns Ca amount, although not for all aged papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parchment bindings located in the Sternkammern in the Prunksaal (State Hall) of the Austrian National Library were subject of an exemplary conservation treatment with minimal intervention. As part of a treatment plan for selected damaged parchment bindings, a comparative study of the most common infill materials for parchment of parchment bound volumes was carried out: This paper discusses well-known and widely used materials for filling in losses in parchment book covers including Japanese paper, parchment and reconstituted parchment. Their properties were examined and compared with regard to their dimensional changes and long-term stability in a non-climate controlled environment, taking aspects of efficiency and economy into consideration as well. The main findings of this comparative overview show that Japanese paper multilayer infills are superior with respect to their dimensional stability while parchment and reconstituted parchment infills excel with respect to aesthetics. Possible fields of application as well as limitations of the studied materials are discussed so that this study may provide a guideline for the decision process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most critical steps during the conservation-restoration treatment applied in Moroccan libraries are the deacidification using immersion in a saturated aqueous calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) solution and the consolidation of degraded manuscripts using Japanese paper. The present study aims to assess the efficiency of this restoration method using a multi-analytical approach. For this purpose, three ancient Arabic Moroccan manuscript papers dating back to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries were investigated to characterize the paper support and make a comparative study between pre-restoration and post-restoration states. Three structural and molecular characterization techniques including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy on 13C with cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CP-MAS NMR), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to elucidate the cellulose main features, to identify the inorganic composition of the papers, and to study the crystallinity of the samples. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) allowed us to obtain a qualitative and quantitative characterization of the mineral fillers used in the manufacturing of the papers. Scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) ascertained the state of conservation of the different papers and helped us to study the elemental composition of the samples. After restoration, it was shown that the deacidification improved the stability of papers by providing an important alkaline buffer, as demonstrated using FT-IR and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) results. However, XRD and ICP-AES did not confirm the pertinence of the treatment for all samples because of the unequal distribution of Ca on the paper surface during the restoration. The consolidation process was studied using SEM analysis; its effectiveness in restoring torn areas was found to be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the influence of poultice type and application techniques on the desalination efficiency of two limestone substrates having similar porosities (22–25%) but different pore size distributions: microporousBateig Noveldaand macro porousTosca Rocafortstones. Three poultice types are compared: pure sepiolite (fine porous), sepiolite and aggregate (medium porous), and pure cellulose powder (coarse porous). Four application techniques are studied: (i) direct application on the stone, (ii) pre-wetting before poultice application, (iii) Japanese paper before application, and (iv) pre-wetting + Japanese paper before application. Samples were taken from poultices on the one hand, and from substrates at different depths on the other hand. Their content in soluble salts was estimated by ionic conductivity measurements. After three application runs, the best result for both substrates is achieved with the combined application of coarse- and fine-porous poultices (FPs) (desalination depth: 4.5/6 cm for macro/micro-porous substrates). The FP is also able to extract salts properly, but the desalination depth achieved is less important (3 cm). A direct poultice application without pre-wetting nor Japanese paper is to be preferred for both stone types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]