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Degradation of cellulose in historic manuscripts with iron gall ink leads our heritage to deterioration. Direct aqueous or non-aqueous methods of treatment, which are often used in practice, can damage the authenticity of documents. Therefore, other methods without any wet curative procedures during treatment are in great request. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of interleaving treatments performed with interleaves containing organic (tetrabuthylammonium bromide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) and inorganic (KI and KBr) halide salts on the stability of paper with iron gall ink during ageing. The effect of interleaving was compared with 1) the efficiency of direct treatment of samples and 2) the established conservation procedure-calcium phytate/calcium hydrocarbonate treatment. To evaluate the stabilization effect of different compounds and the efficiency of particular conservation technique measurements of the polymerization degree (viscosimetry, size exclusion chromatography-SEC) and pH were performed before and after accelerated ageing. Colour change in paper samples was determined by reflection measurement using an integrating sphere with a halogen light source. The condition of paper fibers was studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tentative results demonstrate that the effective stabilization of paper containing iron gall ink during ageing may successfully be achieved by interleaving using alkaline paper impregnated with KBr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In libraries and archives some of the time-acidified items are so brittle that they cannot be handled without risking loss of material. Currently used deacidification processes do not impart improved mechanical properties to the paper. The use of alcoholic solutions of three different types of aminoalkylalkoxysilanes was studied for the deacidification of paper-based items. It was shown that in addition to deacidifying and improving the stability of papers by providing an alkaline buffer the treatment also significantly improved their mechanical resistance, as measured by the folding endurance and tensile breaking resistance. Essential for the appraisal of the deacidification process, the behaviour upon ageing of the materials treated was investigated. Accelerated ageing methods involving heat/humidity and nitrogen dioxide atmosphere were used separately. It was shown that the reinforcement effect of the three aminosilane compounds tested persisted throughout the ageing, and in one case the mechanical properties even improved after ageing. Two of the aminosilanes tested were studied for their impact at the macromolecular level, on the molar masses of cellulose, using size-exclusion chromatography with multiangle light scattering detection. Their effectiveness in protecting paper from acid hydrolysis occurring during ageing was found significant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]