1. Deterioration of Paper Collections
Nancy E Kraft
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Preservation of Books and Other Media
21-25, May, 2012
IODE Project Office
Oostende, Belgium

2. Preservation of Books and Other Media
Discussion
Understanding the elements that make up an item can help you understand how to take care of your collection.
Samples of deterioration

3. Organic and Inorganic Material
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Organic and Inorganic Material
Organic materials are made from (or extracted from) plants or animals.
Inorganic materials are made from rocks and minerals.

4. Chemical Deterioration
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Chemical Deterioration
Hydrolysis -chemical reaction of a
compound with water
Oxidation - chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons from an atom or a molecule. Oxidation requires an oxidizing agent (an oxidant), such as oxygen in the air, ozone, or pollutants.

5. Preservation of Books and Other Media
Redox (Oxidation-Reduction) is the gain of electrons by an atom or a molecule.
Typically seen in photographs containing silver image material. Damage appears in the form of loss of detail, fading, and silver mirroring.
Simply stated: library materials interact with what is in their environment (heat, water, pollutants) and with the material and processes used to make the item.

6. Brief Overview of Paper Making
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Brief Overview of Paper Making

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15. Remember this statement?
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Remember this statement?
Simply stated: library materials interact with what is in their environment (heat, water, pollutants) and with the material and processes used to make the item.
We can the self-destruction of item – Inherent Vice

16. Preservation of Books and Other Media
Inherent Vice
As paper became more in demand and cotton got more expensive, ways to make paper faster and cheaper were developed:
Wood pulp
Lignin
Alum/alum rosin
Gelatin sizing
Short fibers
Metal particles
Bleach

17. Lignin Groundwood pulp Mechanical wood pulp
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Lignin
catalyst for acid hydrolysis
photo-reactive (yellows)
Groundwood pulp
Mechanical wood pulp
Detroit 1935

18. Chemicals used in papermaking Alum
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Chemicals used in papermaking
Alum
gelatin size; alum-rosin size
papermaker’s friend
alum + water —> sulfuric acid

19. Papers Today 1990s –> Dangers machine-made chemical wood fiber
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Papers Today
1990s –>
machine-made
chemical wood fiber
synthetic alkaline sizing
Dangers
recycled fiber content
experimentation with non-wood fibers

20. Permanent Paper Standard
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Permanent Paper Standard
Must have a pH level of 7.5 or greater
Must contain an alkaline buffer of calcium carbonate or other alkaline.
Must be free of chemical impurities and, optimally, contain cotton or other rag fibers.
Must be resistant to tears and folding.

21. Becomes Acidic Air pollution High RH facilitates acid reaction
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Becomes Acidic
Air pollution
nitrous oxide —> nitric acid
sulfur dioxide —> sulfuric acid
High RH facilitates acid reaction
Heat facilitates acid reaction

22. Becomes Acidic Acid makes acid Acid migration
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Becomes Acidic
Acid makes acid
Acid migration

23. Acidity Thrust Upon It Media: iron-gall ink, verdigris, oil Spills
University of Iowa Special Collections. MSC 542, misc. 2 (Papal Manuscript)

24. Inherent Vice Leather: Ink – Iron gall & colored Sulphur compounds
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Inherent Vice
Leather:
Ink – Iron gall & colored
Sulphur compounds
Traces of metal
Pencil
Vegetable tannins
Laser and inkjet printing
Marbled decorations
Fax printing
Adhesives:
Animal glues
Synthetic adhesives
Colorants: Pigments and dyes

25. The invention of the cotton gin Chlorine bleaching
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Which of the following did not contribute to gradual decline of the quality of paper?
The Hollander beater
The use of alum
The invention of the cotton gin
Chlorine bleaching
2. Darkening of paper is primarily a result of:
Acid hydrolysis
The presence of high amounts of lignin
Exposure to pollutants
Exposure to light

26. 3. The phenomenon of red rot in leather bindings is caused by:
Preservation of Books and Other Media
3. The phenomenon of red rot in leather bindings is caused by:
A. Acid hydrolysis
B. Oxidation
C. Presence of metal traces
D. All of the above.
4. Which of the following is the most stable?
Iron gall ink
Laser printing
Ink jet printing
Felt tip marker

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28. Slides 17-19 and 21-23 courtesy of Shannon Zachary
Preservation of Books and Other Media
Slides and courtesy of Shannon Zachary
Nancy E. Kraft
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA
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