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A small framed display panel holds a selection of paper and media common in works on paper plus a set of Blue Wool Standards. The selection of materials and design of the panel including two types of glazing are presented, and the purpose of the panel as a tool for explaining the effects of light on materials is discussed. At the centre of the panel are watercolour samples prepared using primary colours in mixed washes that illustrate hue shift resulting from selective fading of one colourant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grey silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudatum is a new and serious pest spreading rapidly across Europe. Compared to the silverfish Lepisma saccharinum, it does not depend on relative humidity above 70% and thrives also in new museum buildings, modern storage depositories, apartments, and office buildings. Especially collections of graphic art, modern art on paper, photographs, but also archives and libraries are increasingly affected by this pest. Damage of paper objects has been reported by different authors and institutions across Europe. As these animals live in inaccessible cracks and crevices inside the buildings, we investigated the spread of microorganisms on living grey silverfish, to show a potential additional threat posed by this pest. In 8 locations in Austria living animals were collected with traps and placed for 10 min on agar plates which were incubated for 2 weeks. After incubation of 50 agar plates, between 2 and 20 colonies of fungi were growing on each plate. The most dominant fungal genera were Cladosporium (Cladosporium cladosporioides clade) and Penicillium (Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium decumbens); also, species of the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Botrytis, Bartalinia, Byssochlamis, Chaetomium and Mycothypha were found. The diversity of fungi reflects the common fungal community of museums and archives. The spores and mycelial fragments of the fungi are obviously travelling on the legs and bodies of the silverfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this research is the stabilisation of paper with Verdigris, a green copper pigment. Due to its corrosive effects on paper, many important documents, paintings and maps are in danger. The efficiency of several commercially available deacidification agents on paper samples with Verdigris was tested, including magnesium-based Bookkeeper® dispersion, nano calcium hydroxide containing Nanorestore® and CaLoSiL® dispersions as well as a recently developed dispersion of nano calcium carbonate. The antioxidant tetrabutylammonium bromide was tested either alone or in combination with nano calcium based deacidification agents. The effect of the treatments was evaluated using colour, tensile strength, degree of polymerization and pH measurements. The results indicate that acidic degradation does not play a major role during accelerated degradation of paper containing Verdigris with moderately acidic pH value and that oxidative decay could be the main culprit of the decay. The method described, which involves the use of antioxidant tetrabutylammonium bromide in combination with calcium carbonate based deacidification dispersion, was proved to have a superior effect against degradation of paper with Verdigris in comparison to the treatments which involve deacidification agents only. Nano calcium hydroxide based deacidification agents result in high pH values of the paper samples and therefore cannot be advised for use on paper documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conservation, the practical ability to implement treatment on objects of cultural heritage requires skills as an essential part of conservation expertise and constitutes an fundamental part of learning in conservation education. The acquisition of practical skills, which include cognitive and practical elements, is governed by laws that are primarily explained by means of organizational psychology and medicine where they have evolved in the form of step models. Stages of explicit and implicit knowledge are distinguished as well as factual-theoretical and practical-performative knowledge. Forms of learning are, in addition to guided learning, the experiment, the emergency, case studies and implicit forms of problem solving. The development of the expert can also be traced by the development of practical skills in five stages from beginner to expert. The stages of skills acquisition can be explained by reference to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) and the skill levels defined by the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers' Organizations (E.C.C.O.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restorer Johann Michael von Hermann (1793–1855), famous in the early nineteenth century, has long fallen into oblivion. A recent discovery of his work associated with old master prints at the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München has allowed a close study of his methods and skills as well as those of his pupil Ludwig Albert von Montmorillon (1794–1854), providing a fresh perspective on the early history of paper conservation. Von Hermann's method of facsimile inserts was praised by his contemporaries, before Max Schweidler (1885–1953) described these methods in 1938. The present article provides biographical notes on both nineteenth century restorers, gives examples of prints treated by them and adds a chapter of conservation history crediting them with a place in the history of the discipline. In summary, this offers a surprising insight on how works of art used to be almost untraceably restored by this team of Munich-based restorers more than 150 years before Schweidler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conservation, the practical ability to implement treatment on objects of cultural heritage requires skills as an essential part of conservation expertise and constitutes an fundamental part of learning in conservation education. The acquisition of practical skills, which include cognitive and practical elements, is governed by laws that are primarily explained by means of organizational psychology and medicine where they have evolved in the form of step models. Stages of explicit and implicit knowledge are distinguished as well as factual-theoretical and practical-performative knowledge. Forms of learning are, in addition to guided learning, the experiment, the emergency, case studies and implicit forms of problem solving. The development of the expert can also be traced by the development of practical skills in five stages from beginner to expert. The stages of skills acquisition can be explained by reference to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) and the skill levels defined by the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers' Organizations (E.C.C.O.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restorer Johann Michael von Hermann (1793–1855), famous in the early nineteenth century, has long fallen into oblivion. A recent discovery of his work associated with old master prints at the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München has allowed a close study of his methods and skills as well as those of his pupil Ludwig Albert von Montmorillon (1794–1854), providing a fresh perspective on the early history of paper conservation. Von Hermann's method of facsimile inserts was praised by his contemporaries, before Max Schweidler (1885–1953) described these methods in 1938. The present article provides biographical notes on both nineteenth century restorers, gives examples of prints treated by them and adds a chapter of conservation history crediting them with a place in the history of the discipline. In summary, this offers a surprising insight on how works of art used to be almost untraceably restored by this team of Munich-based restorers more than 150 years before Schweidler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper documents with severe iron gall ink corrosion are difficult to handle. While a defined treatment for the chemical stabilisation exists already, methods to improve the mechanical stabilisation have yet to be developed. The degradation of the selected objects was so advanced that the documents needed special attention concerning handling and mechanical re-enforcement. After a calciumphytate-calciumhydrogen treatment, documents were lined with light weight Japanese paper and gelatine. A workflow for treating severely degraded iron gall ink documents was developed. Since the removal of objects from the silk screen frames after the wet treatment proved to be too difficult, a PE-board was introduced as an alternative washing support. Most synthetic fleeces such as Hollytex or Paraprint adhere to its granulated surface by mechanical means. This makes PE-board a practical support during any wet treatment of paper-based objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cyrillic books Menology for May (1705), The Bible (1822) and Mirror (1816) were consigned for conservation to the Conservation Laboratory at the National Library in Skopje. The first two books were printed in Moscow, while the third book was issued in Vienna, although it originates from the territory of the former Ottoman Empire, present-day Republic of Macedonia. In order to design a conservation protocol, papers and inks used in the books were characterized and their condition was assessed. Micro-chemical tests were used in order to identify the type of paper fibres and materials added to the paper pulp. FTIR was applied to confirm the findings for the sizing and fillers found in the paper support. Inorganic pigments were analysed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The original paper in the Russian books was made of rags with less than 5% lignin content present, whereas the paper in Mirror was made of raw and unbleached hardwood. Distinct types of sizing have been identified: gelatine/alum in Menology for May and Mirror and gelatine/rosin in The Bible. The pigments identified are lamp black, vermilion, Prussian blue and calcite. The study elucidates which internal and external factors could cause further decay of the books and will help in making informed decisions concerning the further preservation of the objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) is a technique devoted to the identification and characterization of paramagnetic species, i.e. chemical species with unpaired electrons. Very common paramagnetic species which can be detected through EPR in historic paper are Fe(III), Mn(II), Cu(II) ions and radicals, where Fe(III), Cu(II) and radicals play a relevant role in paper degradation. Specifically, Fe(III) is almost ubiquitous in historic paper. Here we propose an overview of the EPR signals in historic and artificially aged paper, and in particular, we would like to show how a deep analysis of EPR signals from paper could provide useful information about the paper's origin and unique indications of the degradation and oxidation level of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstituted parchment is, besides Japanese paper and parchment, a feasible and widely used material for filling in losses in parchment. This study investigates changes in haptic and visual qualities of the material caused by modifications with different ingredients like paper and parchment fibres. Additionally, selected procedures processing parchment to parchment powder were examined. As a brief introduction, the paper gives an overview over the existing types of reconstituted parchment that are used traditionally in parchment conservation. In addition it attempts to clarify the terminology for this material. Parchment powder was produced with simple and readily available equipment, by different methods: sanding, grating, grinding, shredding, milling and ice-crushing. The different types of home-made powder were compared to a pre-fabricated parchment powder obtained from a parchment maker. The test series showed that the type of preparation of parchment powder influences the fibre texture which in turn affects the material's properties visually and haptically. While all methods are clearly more time-consuming than buying ready-touse material, some preparations, e.g. grating, shredding and ice-crushing, showed superior properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study on the treatment of an etching that had been bleached in the past with 4% hydrogen peroxide and had suffered colour reversion in the form of foxing and discolouration. It states that staining could have been caused by the action of hydrogen peroxide on iron particles in the paper. The extensive rinsing treatment reportedly diminished the foxing stains.

The article discusses the development of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps application for light bleaching art works on paper. It describes the construction of a light bleaching unit using HID lamps, and cites key functionalities of the system. It discusses methods of bleaching for their principal working parameters including immersion bleaching, bleaching on the slant washing board, and on a moist blotter.

The article presents a study on the viability of using aqueous solutions of sodium percarbonate as a new method for bleaching discolored paper. Appositely prepared oxidized papers and authentic discolored papers were analyzed to examine the advantages and drawbacks of sodium percarbonate treatments. Results suggest that sodium percarbonate solutions can be a valid substitute to hydrogen peroxide solutions in brightening discolored mechanical pulp papers because it is more stable when stored, safe to use and has low environmental impact.

The article examines the impact of two humidification and flattening methods for albumen prints on the surface characteristics of the albumen. The two methods include a Gore-Tex® sandwich and the use of a humidity chamber. For humidification process, variables include the length of time and levels of relative humidity and the parameters measured include the changes in number and/or size of the cracks. It was found that a 10-minute exposure to the Gore-Tex® sandwich method resulted to a significant change to the cracks. Meanwhile, in humidity chamber, there is no change in cracks even after 24 hours. After evaluating several flattening methods after humidification, it was found that the "hard-soft sandwich" developed by Homburger and Korbel is the most effective.

The article presents a study for the assessment of how much of the cellulose ether used by conservators can actually be dissolved from paper samples. Cellulose ethers used in the study included ethylcellulose, methylcellulose and hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose supplied by Dow Chemical Co. Quality writing paper were used for preparing paper samples.

The article discusses the theoretical and practical principles of the methodology and the criteria used for the evaluation of paper conservation treatments. A method for the accelerated aging of the samples is employed in most of the cases to demonstrate the future effects of the intervention. The most popular method from the mechanical properties is folding endurance, while from the chemical properties is pH. Colorimetry contributes to the evaluation process.

The article provides insights into the kinetics of paper degradation. The most important parameter to evaluate the degradation of paper is the number of scissions, which can be estimated by the degree of polymerization. The presence of potential degradation sites should always be verified by comparing the value of the viscometric degree of polymerization before and after reduction.

The article reports on the ink corrosion on handwritten documents at the Marburg University. The documents at the university were stored in barrier papers and were partially micro-filmed. The plan to digitalize jurist Carl Friedrich von Savigny's estate offered the first opportunity to display a spectrum of ink corrosion damage symptoms and to take conservation measures.

The article focuses on the influence of light-induced oxidation process on the degradation reaction in paper. Oxidation by natural ageing is slow as compared to light-induced oxidation. Light-induced oxidation reactions help in predicting the lifespan of single paper sheets. Irradiation of groundwood paper block reveals the potential risk of its exposed to light.

The article focuses on a research conducted in order to examine the effects of post-radiation on various kinds of paper. This effect was examined on the basis of changes in relative humidity, the type of the light source and the change on secondary irradiation. The research revealed that post-radiation effect (PRE) is more intense for materials irradiated by a source of daylight as compared to a high ultraviolet source. Following irradiation by daylight, there is a rapid increase on the dependence of PRE on the relative humidity between values of 53 percent and 62 percent.

The article focuses on developments of polyaniline-coated glassy carbon electrodes for pH determination of various materials. Polyaniline film was electro-polymerized on a tailor-made flat surface polished glassy carbon electrode of 1-mm diameter in a polytef holder of 1-cm diameter. The electrode was first activates in 0.5 mole per liter hydrochloric acid at 2.0 volt for 30 seconds. After this procedure the potential was cycled five times between -1.1 and +1.6 volt. Afterwards, the solution was exchanged with 0.1 mole per liter aniline in 1 mole per liter hydrochloric acid and the potential cycled 25 times between -0.2 and 1.0 volts using Potentiostat/Galvanostat Model 273.

The article presents a study, which applied thermographic diagnostics to the study of ancient books. In particular, the technique was tested as an evaluation tool for the state of conservation and for analyzing the structural details of some parchment bindings. With the help of thermographic analysis it was possible to detect the presence of damage, which could not be detected by optical or mechanical analysis, to test the adhesion state of the different parts of the bindings and to analyze the techniques employed for the assembly of the binding and the book-block.

The article presents a study, which characterized the ink components in ancient manuscripts by FTIR spectroscopy. The destructive mechanism of the inks can be influenced and exacerbated by various characteristics and processes. These include the characteristics of the paper, the composition of the ink, environmental conditions and chemical reactions with other molecules. An understanding of the reaction mechanisms of the components of the original ink is crucial for an understanding of the damage caused to paper and parchment. Characterization of these components can help to describe these mechanisms and consequently avoid degradation.

The article presents information on calcium phytate in the treatment of corrosion caused by iron gall inks. Iron gall inks, developed later than carbon ink, became steadily more common and widespread during the middle ages. The carbon inks in use up until that time had the invaluable quality of not being reactive, due to the stability of carbon. They were not subject to chemical alteration and did not contain any substances that would damage the support. It seems that the instability of carbon ink may have encouraged the practice of adding small quantities of ferrous sulphate.

The article informs that mass deacidification technology in Germany and its quality control. European archives and library preservation officers today are able to choose among several commercial companies providing mass deacidification services according to different systems. To develop a holistic deacidification programme, they have to be able to evaluate which collection materials should be subjected to such a mass treatment. Until recently, there has been no meaningful analytical procedure for evaluating the efficacy of mass deacidification treatments. Common tests provided only limited information and required destructive analysis on extensive sample material. None of these tests can predict the chemical stability or ageing properties of paper.

The article presents information on evaluation of the effectiveness of stabilization methods of papers. The extensive use of iron gall inks over the centuries, has given rise to an increasing interest for chemists and conservators in the degradation of this medium on paper. The most plausible hypothesis for the degradation seems to be acid hydrolysis and oxidation of the cellulose caused by the presence of the ink. The cause of these chemical reactions stem from the nature of the ingredients, mainly gallic acid and iron sulphate. The main effects of degradation are extensive losses of the paper substrate within the inked areas and the increase in acidity of a document.

The article presents information on the effect of simmering on the chemical and mechanical properties of paper. Iron gall ink corrosion of paper threatens to destroy a large portion of historic manuscripts, records and drawings globally. A great deal of effort has been and continues to be, invested in studying and understanding the causes and pathways of iron gall ink corrosion of paper, and the efficacy of various conservation treatments. Among the many traditional treatments, "boiling paper" as a treatment for corroded iron gall ink documents has been used for more than 30 years 68.

The article presents information on influence of fixatives and deacidification on the stability of arylmethane dyes on paper during the course of accelerated aging. Information and ideas have been recorded and disseminated through the centuries in various forms. As graphics they can take many forms including engraved, written, drawn and printed images and text. They render immortality to ideas and facts and can be characterized as a collective memory for ideas and words. The objects themselves, which carry this graphic information, are complex systems consisting of a support material, and the image medium such as, dye, pigment, ink, toner or a light-sensitive layer.

The article makes a comparison of different washing techniques used on an artificially discolored, sized paper. The beneficial effects of increased temperature on washing were studied along with several other variables related to wetting of the paper. It was established that the Arches paper was (compared with filter paper) relatively difficult to wet and, when immersed in water, took several hours to achieve the maximum cleaning available by the immersion process. The experiments described in this article, study the relative efficiency of seven aqueous washing techniques used in paper conservation at the British Museum.

This article describes the influence of Gum Arabic on iron gall ink corrosion. Iron-gall ink corrosion of paper is one of the greatest threats for the graphic heritage and affects a significant number of ancient manuscripts, as iron-gall inks were commonly in use until the beginning of the twentieth century. Numerous recipes are cited in the literature. Most of them include the following basic ingredients: iron sulphate, gallnut extracts and a binder, which makes the ink texture more suitable for writing. Ink corrosion is considered to be the result of two major degradation processes: acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and iron(II)-catalyzed oxidation of cellulose, contributing to a loss in the mechanical properties of paper.

The article studies the application of the freeze-drying process to water-damaged archival and library materials. By soaking samples for 18 hours and draining for 5 hours, reproducible soaked samples were obtained; the amount of absorbed water was 121 ± 1 % in relation to the initial dry weight. The method was reproducible, simple and economic. The freeze-drying and evaporative-drying of soaked samples resulted in the complete drying of the paper in 18 hours, without excessive damage. With regard to antique documents, especially those containing miniatures or paintings, re-conditioning of dried, brittle paper is recommended, before handling.

The rate of wetting and washing of paper was been studied in this article. The papers studied were an Arches artists' paper and a Whatman filter paper. The papers were used as supplied and as artificially discoloured by soaking them in a concentrated aqueous extract of old, discoloured paper. The wetting of the Arches paper was much slower than that of the filter paper; a surfactant accelerated the wetting of the Arches paper but had little effect on the filter paper. For both discoloured papers, the rate of washing was accelerated by the presence of surfactant. The rate of wetting and of washing was increased as the temperature increased. A period of storage at zero degree, relative humidity increased the extent of washing compared with paper previously humidified.

This article presents the author's views on the optimization of leafcasting technique. Leafcasting is used for the production of various conservation paper samples of different fibre types and additives, as well as optimising the technique for conservation. Many research concentrated on the influence bleached and unbleached cellulose fibre had on the quality and on the permanence and stability of the resulting paper. Leafcasting technique is advantageous in comparison to manual methods. Leafcasting is faster and provides superior aesthetic quality and homogeneity between the old paper and the new fill.

Two terms, permanence and durability are often used to express the ageing behavior of paper. Permanence relates to the retention of a paper's mechanical properties over prolonged periods, while durability expresses the degree to which a paper retains its original qualifies under continuous usage. Usually, strength and optical properties are important in most papers in which permanence is to be studied. Paper strength depends upon fiber strength and the strength of intermediate bonds, the latter being the more critical, but the significance of fiber strength in the resulting paper strength cannot be neglected.

Considerable differences will be found between the way many art works and particularly the papers, which act as support and made especially for graphic art, have aged over the years. They confirm an urgent need to use permanent archival materials to ensure the longevity of an art work. To evaluate whether some of papers used by artists are likely to last the test of time it is necessary to determine their permanence and durability. A work of art on paper, such as a print, created for display as the artist intended, should be printed on paper of archival quality, displayed and stored, when not being exhibited, under strictly controlled climatic conditions, with strict light levels.

Focuses on an experiment to study the influence of accelerated ageing temperature on properties of papers treated with calcium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide combined with methyl cellulose solutions. Two kind of papers used in the experiment; Conditions under which accelerated ageing procedure was carried out; Measurement of chemical, optical and mechanical properties of treated and untreated papers.

Focuses on an experiment regarding the effect of pH and alkaline reserve of paper on the growth of some filamentous fungi. Factors influencing the growth and metabolic activities of filamentous fungi; Treatment given to different qualities of paper during the experiment; List of fungal strains that were used to carry out biological tests on paper samples.

Focuses on seven kinds of traditional Chinese paper. Effect of jiaofanshui, animal glue with alum as an acidic sizing agent; Properties of xuan paper and daqian writing paper; Uses of various traditional Chinese papers.

Focuses on an experiment to study the impact of aqueous treatment on the strength properties of Whatman filter paper. Information on folding endurance and tensile absorption of the paper; Explanations for the decrease in tensile strength of the paper after aqueous treatment; Discussion on long-term implications of decrease in tensile strength on the basis of different strength decrease scenario.

Features a study that examined the susceptibility of printed paper to attack of chewing insects after gamma irradiation and ageing. Effects of irradiation on the mechanical and chemical characteristics of paper; Types of paper used in the experiment; Relationship between the gamma dose absorbed by the paper and the erosion caused on it by the chewing insect.

Presents a study that investigated the influence of a modified, carbon dioxide-enriched atmosphere on the properties of paper. Types of paper used in the experiment; Properties of the paper samples treated in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide; Behavior of paper treated in a carbon dioxide modified atmosphere.

Part I. Presents a study that examined a non destructive detection system for iron gallotannate ink. Effect of iron gall inks on paper; Application of false color infrared photography (FCIR) as a method for analyzing the components of iron gall inks; Advantage of FCIR over other non-destructive optical methods.

Describes the application of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-deconvolution technique to the analysis of the iron- and copper-induced degradation of paper. Characteristics of the samples; Mechanism of iron and copper degradation of paper; Conclusions.

Part II. Presents an experiment which examined the effect of cooking agents on the permanence of washi (Japanese paper). Description of washi; Uses of dasa, a sizing agent for art objects made of paper; Significance of the experiment.

Presents a study which made paper sheets from a papyrus plant after pulping in order to obtain a suitable pulp for document conservation. Delignification of papyrus by the pulping processes; Details of papyrus reinforcement technique; Consolidation of brittle papyrus.

Presents a study on the influence of unbleached pulp content on the permanence and durability of paper produced under alkaline conditions and containing calcium carbonate as a filler. Optical and color stability; Behavior towards light; Surface characteristics.

Investigates the hypothesis that there is a symbiotic action between acidity and oxidation on the depolymerization of cellulose, the main component of paper. Functional groups formed after oxidation of cellulose with hypochlorite, depending on pH; Effect of acidity on the depolymerization process; Discussion on the degradation of cellulose oxidized by aqueous solutions of metaperiodate at different concentrations.

Presents a study which examined an oxidometry method which allows the separation of hydrolytic or direct chain cleavages from scissions made possible by oxidation in papers. Evaluation of the extent of oxidation; Effect of the method on cellulose paper; Conclusions.

Deals with a study which examined the extent of oxidation reactions on lignin after a paper was exposed to daylight. Background on the influence of light on the natural aging of paper; Materials and method; Results and discussion; Conclusions.