Archival paper is made pH neutral or slightly alkaline to prevent yellowing and brittleness. It’s more expensive but lasts longer than conventional paper. Proper storage in cool, dry, dark places is necessary for preservation. Archival paper is used for important documents, artwork, and book editions.
Many important documents need to be kept for long periods of time. Conventional paper products degrade slowly due to the high level of acid that normally exists in paper. Archival paper is made slightly alkaline or pH neutral so it will not yellow and become brittle with age. Most of the paper companies offer such records in their line for archivists, governments, libraries and artists. However, it’s important to remember that this type of card is only useful under the right conditions.
Two primary factors contribute to the degradation of conventional paper. The first is lignin, a component of plant cell walls. The lignin will turn yellow when exposed to heat, causing the paper to yellow. The acid makes the paper more brittle, thin and brittle. Newspapers provide perhaps the best example of the antithesis of archival paper, as they are made as cheaply as possible, as most people recycle them after one reading. Newspapers quickly turn yellow and brittle, an undesirable feature in important documents.
Historically, important documents have been printed on parchment, a material made from calfskin. With wider adoption of paper, people started to notice that their paper documents weren’t as durable as those printed on vellum. The discoveries of acid and lignin led to the development of archival paper.
The process for making this paper is more complex, resulting in a more expensive final product. The paper is thoroughly treated to remove the lignin, then made pH neutral, or preferably alkaline, with the addition of sodium carbonate or calcium carbonate. Alkaline paper will withstand the acidic environment better than neutral paper. The resulting product holds ink and colors well and will last much longer than conventional paper.
However, archival paper prefers alkaline conditions. Many companies sell archival tissue sheets that can be sandwiched between sheets of archival paper and alkaline storage boxes for the paper. Paper should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place to further extend its shelf life. Most document archives have humidity control measures in place to ensure that the paper is kept in the best conditions.
In addition to important documents, archival paper is also used by artists to preserve their work. Scrapbookers may also use it in archival scrapbooks, and important book editions are printed on this type of paper so they will last. Most paper supply stores offer a selection of archival papers, which are sometimes designated as “lignin-free” or “pH neutral.”
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