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The Mechanisms and Causes of Paper Deterioration

The Mechanisms and Causes of Paper Deterioration is a discussion of the chemical structure of paper and how this breaks down as it ages, this article also delves into issues such as pH, the effects of light, acid deterioration, the use of alkaline buffers and molecular traps (zeolites), and finishes with a brief history of archival papers in the United States and a look at preventative conservation options. It also details the specifications for our archival papers and boards. This article, with additional information included to reflect new innovations and theories of archival practices, has been in the front of every catalog we have published since 1979 and has been used repeatedly in first- semester library and conservation science courses at leading universities in the United States.