Latent Acidification of Books Composed of Alkaline Text Papers
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Yukiko Mochizuki
Abstract
The current study conducted in March–April 2021 elucidated the acidification process of books using alkaline text paper and improved the method of pH measurement in a previous study from 2016. The pH was measured on various positions of Japanese books published in 2000–2020 using the same type of pH-indicator strip as used in 2016; however, a wetted pH-indicator strip was kept pressed to the text paper with fingers at approximately 5 kgf for 90 s to secure the transfer of water-extracted components for four times while a 250 g paperweight was mounted and kept for 60 s for two times in the 2016-study. This time, the pH was found to decrease faster in positions more readily exposed to outside air compared to the 2016-study. Immediately after publication of the book, the pH was approximately 7.8 in every position. The pH of the top edge corner and the surface near the top edge corner later decreased to a neutral pH 7.0 4–6 years and 7–9 years after publication, respectively. Approximately 20 years after publication, the centre of the page in the interior of the book also dropped to pH 7.1, suggesting that acidification steadily progressed, albeit slightly, even on alkaline paper.
Zusammenfassung
Die aktuelle Studie, die im März-April 2021 durchgeführt wurde, klärte die latente Versäuerung von Büchern, die auf alkalischem Papier gedruckt worden waren, auf und ergänzt eine vorangegangene Studie aus dem Jahr 2016. Der pH-Wert wurde an verschiedenen Stellen von japanischen Büchern gemessen, die in den Jahren 2000-2020 veröffentlicht worden waren, wobei dieselbe Art von pH-Indikatorstreifen wie in der Studie von 2016 verwendet wurde. Allerdings wurde ein mit Wasser benetzter pH-Indikatorstreifen mit den Fingern bei etwa 5 kgf für 90 Sekunden auf das Papier gedrückt, um die Übertragung von mit Wasser extrahierbaren Bestandteilen sicherzustellen, während in der Studie von 2016 ein 250 g schweres Papiergewicht verwendet und für 60 Sekunden gehalten wurde. Diesmal wurde festgestellt, dass der pH-Wert in Positionen, die stärker der Außenluft ausgesetzt sind, schneller abfällt als in der Studie von 2016. Unmittelbar nach der Veröffentlichung des Buchs lag der pH-Wert in jeder Position bei etwa 7,8. Der pH-Wert der oberen Ecke und der Oberfläche in der Nähe der oberen Ecke sank vier bis sechs Jahre, bzw. sieben bis neun Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung auf einen neutralen pH-Wert von 7,0. Etwa 20 Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung sank auch der pH-Wert in der Mitte der Seite im Inneren des Buches auf 7,1, was darauf hindeutet, dass die Versäuerung selbst auf alkalischem Papier stetig, wenn auch nur leicht, fortschreitet.
Funding source: The research and development office at UT Library and the operation fund from UT
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the University of Tsukuba (UT) Library for providing an opportunity to measure the pH of the book.
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Research funding: This work was supported by the research and development office at UT Library and the operation fund from UT.
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Competing interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Original Works
- Latent Acidification of Books Composed of Alkaline Text Papers
- A Comparative Study of the Performance of Handmade Papers Used for Mounting in China, Korea, and Japan
- Characteristics of Traditional Persian Lacquered Bindings and Specific Deterioration Issues
- Dyes Used for Colouring Manuscripts and Their Effect on Cellulose Degradation
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Original Works
- Latent Acidification of Books Composed of Alkaline Text Papers
- A Comparative Study of the Performance of Handmade Papers Used for Mounting in China, Korea, and Japan
- Characteristics of Traditional Persian Lacquered Bindings and Specific Deterioration Issues
- Dyes Used for Colouring Manuscripts and Their Effect on Cellulose Degradation
