Soluble nylon

Peter N. Krantz <bkfndrs [at] ozemail__com__au> writes

>We recently acquired a few rolls of soluble nylon, a
>Tyvek/Reemay-looking random weave, but which tears very easily
>between the fingers.  It dissolves in alcohol, and melts under heat.
>It is used as both a resizing agent, and also as a heat-activated
>adhesive. These rolls were acquired from a retired conservator, who
>was active during the nineteen eighties.
>
>Our question:  Is this substance still considered of suitable
>conservation-standard, as an adhesive and resizing agent?

I used soluble nylon many years ago to resize paper and found that
it transparentizes the paper. It went out of favor also because it
is so difficult to remove. requiring warm Methanol.  there are so
many alternatives that I would avoid soluble Nylon for conservation
use as resizing.  I have never used it as an adhesive, so I cannot
speak to that.

Murray Lebwohl


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:3
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 14, 2001
                        Message Id: cdl-15-3-010
                                  ***