Ink Corrosion
Papersave Swiss procedure against ink corrosion
At a glance
- Co-project leader : Prof. Dr. Achim Ecker, Carmen Effner, Michael Ramin
- Project team : Lucie Sägesser
- Project budget : CHF 110'000
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : CTI
- Project partner : Nitrochemie Wimmis AG, Berner Fachhochschule HKB
- Contact person : Achim Ecker
Description
Ink corrosion - caused by acids and metal ions such as iron and
copper - threatens manuscripts that form much of our written
cultural heritage from the 3rd century BC to the 19th century AD.
The paper is simply breaking apart in the areas where there is
writing in ink. Whole texts are being lost in this manner.
Many tons of acid-damaged paper manufactured from 1850 onwards have
been treated with the Papersave Swiss procedure (Nitrochemie AG).
In this CTI project, this procedure is now being modified
positively to deal with paper damaged by ink corrosion. It is
intended to provide an economical means of conserving our written
heritage.