Linda Barone ~ Conservation of Archival Materials
Portfolio fifekat2@yahoo.com
Washing
Immersing paper in water is a complicated treatment that is not chosen lightly. All media is tested first for solubility! Washing typically means several baths: first just water, then water
and an alkaline solution to increase the pH of the paper, giving it an "alkaline reserve",
and sometimes a Calcium Phytate treatment for protecting manuscript inks.
(underveis konserveringsbehandling)
Washing can also improve the overall strength of paper by rinsing out acidity that will lead to embrittlement. This map then had its tears repaired and was put back into a vellum case.
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(Før konserveringsbehandling...)
Washing can help take stains out of the paper, like this coffee stain.
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Treatment of the Irish Warrants included: washing, calcium phytate solution bath, alkaline reserve, mending... and reversibly laced into a vellum case.
(before washing, the paper looked liks this...)
