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Re: [GBW] Chloramine-T
Perhaps there could be information and linkes on the homepage of the GBW website about the science behind materials and treatment methods. Or an occasional session of the Standards dealing with basic paper treatments.
>>> Betsy Palmer Eldridge <bpeldridge@xxxxxxx> 11/12/2007 10:45 PM >>>
An interesting set of questions and comments about this paper
conservation problem. I agree with most of the comments made: simple
washing often is very effective; light bleaching can produce amazine
results; and Chloramine-T has not been used for years for a variety of
reasons. etc... However what seems not to have been mentioned is that
these decisions are very dependent on the type of paper, sizing, media,
and damage, not to mention the aesthetic considerations, of a
particular object. Historically bookbinders were not trained to handle
paper problems; they did not want to have anything to do with
"chemistry". That is no longer the case, and is now considered an
important part of binding. It is for that reason that the CBBAG program
includes a week long Intensive in Basic Paper Treatments for
Bookbinders. Most of us who are bookbinders/conservators have learned
what we know from our paper conservator colleagues, mainly via the IPC
Paper Conservator and the AIC Book and Paper Annual, over the years.
We have come a long, long way. There is a lot of infornation out there.
But I question whether we can do any of these subjects justice on an
email exchange such as this. The background information alone would
require incredibly long dissertations... However without that
background, these random comments are likely to be taken out of context
and misunderstood, if not misused. We need a better way to present
this sort of information. but I am not sure what to suggest.
Betsy
Betsy Palmer Eldridge
24 Castle Frank Cres.
Toronto, Ont M4W3A3
416-967-4589
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Hales <hales@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: The email list for Guild of Book Workers member communications
<gbw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Nov 8 3:18 PM
Subject: [GBW] Chloramine-T
On Nov 8, 2007, at 1:09 PM, Peter Geraty wrote:
> As one of the many following this discussion, I am glad to see it.
> I wish there were more discussions in a similar vein on many more
> subjects. The haphazard way many of us have learned our craft, can
> leave some spotty knowledge. There may be no fault in this, but it
> is the responsibility of any practitioner to work within one's
> knowledge base. These discussions do a lot towards expanding that
> base for all of us.
I quite agree with Peter's comments, and would welcome more such
discussion. In particular, I would like to ask those more informed
than I am about what scientific literature there is on Chloramine-T.
If there really are long-term negative effects, there should be some
literature. I did some searching myself (using Worldcat, Google
Scholar, Wiley InterScience database, and the Guild of Book Workers
site) and came up largely empty-handed. It is easy to find older
papers/books recommending Chloramine-T, but not much that is
critical. For example, this is the sum total of what Science for
Conservators, vol. 2: Cleaning (Routledge, 1992) has to say on the
subject:
"For awhile it was thought that chloramine-T residues were harmless,
but now it is considered advisable to wash them out too, using either
water or alcohol." (p. 113).
I also found an older article by Katherine G. Eirk, "An Experimental
Evaluation of Accepted Methods for Removing Spots and Stains from
Works of Art on Paper," Bulletin of the American Group. International
Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, vol. 12,
no. 2 (April, 1972) pp. 82-87. The only negative thing in it I could
find about Chloramine-T was that a one-hour immersion in lowered the
bursting strength of aged paper, although not drastically. This seems
to be due to loss of sizing.
So far this is not much of an indictment. I assume there is a
literature that examines Chloramine-T while controlling for variables
such as immersion time, solution strength, post-bleach rinsing
conditions, paper age, burst strength after resizing, Chloramine-T
residue after rinsing, as well as longitudinal studies of paper that
was washed with Chloramine-T 30 or 40 years ago. Microscopy of the
paper fibers would also be helpful. If anyone could direct me to such
literature I would be grateful.
I, for one, am certainly aware of lacunas in my bookbinding
education. I just want to be confident that I am filling the holes
with knowledge and not anecdotes.
Thanks,
Steve
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GBW Standards - October 18-20, 2007
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The GBW website is supported and maintained by
Conservation OnLine http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw
To post messages, email to GBW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For problems, contact Eric Alstrom, List Manager:
gbwlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For info about the list, visit http://mailman.lib.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gbw
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****************************************************
GBW: The email list for GBW member communications
GBW Standards - October 18-20, 2007
Dallas, TX - More info at http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/standards.shtml
The GBW website is supported and maintained by
Conservation OnLine http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw
To post messages, email to GBW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For problems, contact Eric Alstrom, List Manager:
gbwlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For info about the list, visit http://mailman.lib.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gbw
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