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The Chemistry of Paper Conservation Joe Bloggs joebloggs@mail Introduction ‘Approximately one third of paper in copyra brite to handle and another t will need attention over the = nineteen The main cause of degradation is decomposition ofc (Figure 1), the main component of paper. Decompos' acid catalysed and one succes 10 decompose because of wha below and possible solut : Paper consists of cellulose which due to H-bonding between the chains (Ref 1) ‘Additives can be included to strengthen paper's Paper can decompose in acidic conditions by acié-cataysed hydrolysis ofthe cellulose chains (Figure 3) This shortens the cellulose chains and makes the paper more brittle, Fragile papers can be dipped into the alkaline bath on a fine mesh toprevent them from breaking apart. ft Wont é Ink on Paper «ten si “whe + Sete. % Figure 3: Acid catalysed hydrolysis of cellulose can shorten the ‘chains and make paper more brittle (Ref 1) Figure2: Cellulose chains mesh together to form the structure ‘of paper (Image: Core Materials on Fick) References & Further Reading 1.M, Seery, Education in Chemistry, 2013, March, 22~25. 2. Conservati ‘and M. Jone jence: heritage materials, €. May SC Publishing, 2006, (Chapter 3). 3.\.D. Daniels, Chem. Soe. Rew, 1996, 25,179. ‘Except where indicted, all images inthis poster are taken from reference 1

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