Re: Paper mount archivality

[P3D Mark Josephson <icebox@xxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 13 Nov 1996, P3D John Bercovitz wrote:

> can't test for acid until the lignin breaks down.  Can you 
> accelerate the breakdown of the lignin into acid?  How would you 
> test for acid?  Grind up a specific weight of the paper and put it 
> in a specific volume of water and stick litmus paper in it?
> 
I think that sticking a piece of the paper in direct sun for a
few weeks will do the trick, won't it?  Isn't the rapid discoloration
one sees in newspaper left in direct sun caused by UV breaking down the
lignin in the newsprint?  I guess the way to find out would be to take
some 100% rag paper and leave in it the sun for a few weeks.  Of course,
by that time, one could call Light Impressions, get an acid-test pen, and
snail mail the results to everyone on this list before the sun
approach would work, if it does. :)

At any rate, unless a more knowledgable poster dissuades me, for the good
of science (or should that be stupidity?), I'll stick a pegco mount and a
piece of archival board I got from Light Impressions in front of the sun
windows. :)

--
Mark Josephson  | Why the Blackhawks have not had a home ice advantage
icebox@xxxxxxx  | at the new United Center (Daily Herald, 10/24/96):
                | "It's such a nice, pretty building.  At first 
                |  you were almost afraid to bleed on the ice."
----------------|    --Cam Russell, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
Icebox in effect on WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago, Wednesdays, 9PM-Midnite 



------------------------------