1. STRENGTH AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF BOOK PAPERS 1800-1899. PERMANENCE/DURABILITY OF THE BOOK--V.
- Author
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Barrow (W.J.) Research Lab., Richmond, VA.
- Abstract
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO--(1) ASCERTAIN THE PRESENT STRENGTH OF BOOK PAPERS TYPICAL OF THOSE MANUFACTURED DURING THE 19TH CENTRUY AND NOW PART OF AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY COLLECTIONS, (2) IDENTIFY CAUSES OF DETERIORATION, (3) PROPOSE A SIMPLE METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING VOLUMES NEEDING STABILIZATION, AND (4) RECOMMEND METHODS OF STABILIZATION. THE EXAMINATION OF 500 NON-FICTION BOOKS PUBLISHED FROM 1800-1899 REVEALED THAT THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE DETERIORATION OF BOOK PAPER AFTER MID-19TH CENTURY IS THE ACIDITY OF ALUM-ROSIN SIZE, WHICH WAS USED INCREASINGLY TO SIZE BOTH WOOD PULP AND RAG FIBER PAPERS. ALTHOUGH WOOD PULP WAS REPLACING RAG FIBER AT THIS TIME AND IS POPULARLY THOUGHT TO BE THE MAIN REASON FOR LOSS OF BOOK PAPER STRENGTH, THE STUDY SHOWED THAT ALL-RAG PAPERS SUFFERED A SIMILAR DROP IN QUALITY. THE CHLOROPHENOL-RED SPOT TEST WAS FOUND TO BE RELIABLE FOR INDENTIFYING MOST OF THE BOOK PAPERS NEEDING STABILIZATION. THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT PRINTER'S INK DID NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PAPERS TESTED, ALTHOUGH IT CAUSED A LOSS OF 30 PERCENT IN FOLDING STRENGTH. METHODS RECOMMENDED FOR DELAYING OR PREVENTING DETERIORATION OF 19TH CENTURY BOOK PAPERS INVOLVE DE-ACIDIFICATION AND STORAGE AT LOWERED TEMPERATURES. APPENDED IS A LIST OF BOOKS TESTED, A TABULAR PRESENTATION OF TEST DATA, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 43 ITEMS. THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED UNDER A GRANT FROM THE COUNCIL ON LIBRARY RESOURCES AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE W.J. BARROW RESEARCH LABORATORY, INC., 428 N. BLVD. P.O. BOX 7311, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23221, FREE OF CHARGE. (JB)
- Published
- 1967