Preserve Your Treasured Collections With Acid-Free Paper

 

The rapid degradation of acid-treated paper has been the bane of libraries since the 1950s. Archivist William J. Barrow, who worked for the National Archives, first discovered the problem and worked with companies to create an alkaline process for wood pulp. However, most mills were still producing acidic paper in the early 2000s. The solution is to deacidify as much paper as possible. This will extend the useful life of the item.

Acid-free papers are made from 100% cotton fibers. This type of paper contains no acid. The pH measure will be 6.5 or higher. This paper can be used for both artwork and documents. It is also ideal for making books and other materials. A common misconception about acid paper is that it is neutral pH. It may still have a slight yellow color, but it is no longer harmful to art or documents. But, you should be aware that some types of paper have buffers to counter the effects of acid on them.

Acid paper is not the only problem with old books. Many books are affected by acid. It affects the way they're reproduced. For example, a book published in the 1880s might not be as good today as it was then. Fortunately, there are some solutions to the acid paper issue. If you want to preserve your treasured collections, you can start by using buffers and paper that contains no acid. It will help you preserve your collection for years to come.

Changing paper's acidic content will cause feeding problems in sheetfed presses. A sixty-pound Acid paper may run fine, but you may need to switch to a 70-pound alkaline-based paper to avoid feed problems. Trying new stock before buying is the best way to ensure it will not cause any problems. If it is not compatible with your press, try a sample first. This will save you time and money in the long run.

Paper that has no acid is acid free. The term acid free is often confusing, because many customers will mistake it for acid-free paper. This isn't true at all. An acid-free paper contains buffers to change the acidic level of the sheet. A pH level of 6.5 or higher is considered an acid free paper. Aside from buffers, it should be noted that this is not the same as an acid-free paper.

Fortunately, there are several ways to determine whether a piece of paper is acidic. Using a pH testing kit will help you determine whether the paper is acidic or not. It is possible to determine the pH level of a piece of paper by looking at the paper's surface. A pH test kit should give you an idea of the pH levels of the two types of papers. The test will tell you which one is acidic.