Author:
Neevel, Johan G.
Title Article/Chapter:
"Phytate: a potential conservation agent for the treatment of ink corrosion caused by irongall inks"
Title of Source:
Restaurator: international journal for the preservation of library and archival material
AATA Number:
33-827
Date of Publication:
1995
Language Text:
English
Language Summaries:
English; French; German
References:
Includes bibliographical references
Subject Keywords English:
phytate;conservation;ink;corrosion;iron;gall;paper -- CAL
Subject Keywords French:
Papier; Altération; Encre; Encre métallogallique; Conservation; Essai;
Subject Keywords English 2:
Art and Archaeology Technical Abstracts; corrosion; ink -- AATA
Subject Keywords English 3:
Paper; Deterioration; Ink; Irongall ink; Conservation; Test -- ICCROM
Subject Label:
Paper; books; and library and archival materials;
Subject Material Test:
Phytate
Abstract:
Ink corrosion, the degradation of paper by iron-gall inks, destroys paper manuscripts and pen drawings. The degradation can be attributed to both acid hydrolysis and iron(II)-catalysed oxidation of cellulose. Phytic acid, a natural antioxidant, blocks the latter process. Its action has been investigated by simulating ink corrosion with accelerated ageing tests at 90°C and a relative humidity, cycling each 3 hours between 35 and 80per thousand. Mechanical strength was tested with a bursting tester at screen patterns, made with an iron-gall ink of a composition representative of old ink recipes. When ink corrosion occurred, the aged paper samples burst at the patterns. By deacidigication with an aqueous solution of magnesium bicarbonate the half-value period of the bursting strength increased from 6 to 15 days. In combination with a treatment with an aqueous solution of sodium phytate the half-value period increased to 23 days. Surface-pH values of both treated sets were similar. Therefore the increase in stability must be due to the antioxidant function of phytate. Further research should lead to practical phytate-based conservation treatments of manuscripts and pen drawings threatened by ink corrosion.
Originating Institution:
MCI
Location of Document:
MCI;ICCROM
ICCROM Shelf:
Per. International 2
MCI Accession Number:
7036
Record Type:
Abstract
Literature Type:
Serial
Bibliographic Level:
Analytic
Old BCIN Number:
201145
BCIN Number:
143325
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