A brief history of this TAPPI committee can be found on p. 28 in the September 1992 issue of this Newsletter. The first three of the Committee's four known reports are reprinted in the November 1992 and the June 1993 issues. They record the Committee's systematic and determined review of research on paper permanence. At first their main concern was the rag vs. wood controversy, but as their investigation continued they became aware of other important factors, as this report illustrates.
Controversy over choice of fiber furnish did not end when the Permanence and Durability Committee went out of existence in the late 1930s. Now, 60 years later, debate rages over whether paper made with mechanical or semichemical pulp can be just as permanent as paper made with chemical wood pulp, provided both are alkaline and carbonate filled. The debate has already stimulated some research, but much remains to be done.
The report reprinted here was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry in February, 1937, and was published in the Paper Trade Journal, Technical Association Section, August 26, 1937, p. 42-44 (dual paging: TAPPI Section, p.138-140), under the title, 'Report of Permanence and Durability Committee." It is reprinted with permission of Pulp and Paper, successor to the Paper Trade Journal.
If the technical literature is used as an index, the past year has seen little activity in the collection of data relating to the permanence and durability of papers. On the other hand, it is obvious from the number of inquiries coming in from libraries and paper users that the importance of the subject is becoming more widely recognized and that more and more attention will have to be paid to it in the future if satisfactory papers are to be made.
Among the contributions to the literature which are worthy of note is a paper on '"The Technical Status of the Permanence and Durability of Papers," presented by M. S. Kantrowitz before the Graphic Arts Technical Conference of the A.S.M.E. In this he discusses the chemical and physical tests which are used in such investigations, the effect of storage conditions and the specifications for permanent papers.
Another contribution, which is especially worthy of study is Technical Bulletin No. 541 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture on "Deterioration of Book and Record Papers" by T. D. Jarrell, J. M. Hankins and F. P. Veitch. This report details the chemical and physical tests of a large number of papers, the samples being taken from the edges and middle portions of the same pages. The work clearly indicates that a very important factor in connection with deterioration is the acidity of the sample and that if a high pH is maintained relatively little change in the paper will take place. This has, of course, been known for some time but little emphasis has been placed on it and most of the studies relating to durability have seemed to take the view that the kind of fiber used was the most important factor. This bulletin indicates that acidity is of far more importance than the fiber used.
From Bulletin No. 541 the following significant statements are quoted. "There are serious difficulties in determining what deterioration has taken place in old papers. These include the lack of information concerning the chemical and physical properties of the papers when new, incomplete knowledge concerning conditions of storage, exposure, and use, and the lack of control samples which have been protected from deteriorating agencies."
This makes it so plain that our knowledge must be incomplete until some carefully planned line of work is carried out, and the value of the knowledge to be gained seems so obvious that your committee has drawn up a comprehensive program for the study of the permanence of papers and is presenting it for the consideration of the Executive Committee of TAPPI. This program does not include studies of durability, except as to the extent to which the strength of the papers is affected by the chemical changes taking place during storage.
This program is not proposed as an activity of the Permanence and Durability Committee, but it is strongly urged that the Executive Committee give it careful consideration and find means to carry it out. Until such work is done it will never be possible to answer with any degree of certainty the numerous controversial questions which come up in regard to the permanence of important records.
It is realized that many points remain to be settled in regard to this program, among them being how and where the papers for testing are to be obtained; who is to collect the original data on these samples, without which the work will be of very limited value; at what points the papers are to be stored, and who is to have charge of them during the storage period; and where the work of testing is to be carried out. These points are of vital importance if the work is to be carried out as it should be, but it is impossible to settle them until authorization for the work is obtained and proper arrangements made as to funds.
If this work had been started thirty years ago we would now be well on our way toward answering many important questions, but as it is we are still theorizing and guessing. We believe it is time this uncertain policy is abandoned and some real authoritative work started.
In carrying out a program of this sort, which may cover a period of fifty years or more, it is essential that the samples to be tested should be selected with care in order that they may give a maximum amount of information with a minimum of work. The following list of samples has been selected with this in mind, and while it might be very considerably expanded, it is believed that it is sufficiently comprehensive to give most of the desired information. The papers which it is considered necessary to test are as follows:
Total 52 samples.
In order to make a fair comparison of waterleaf, rosin sized, and surface sized papers in any one series it is necessary that they be made from the same fibrous stock. Since it is not to be expected that such a series of samples could be obtained from the regular stock of any paper manufacturer it is highly probable that they will have to be specially prepared for this work. No matter where they are made very careful records of all manufacturing conditions should be kept. These should include the following:
The fibers used in preparing these papers should be given the following tests and analyses.
These tests should be made as promptly as possible after s the paper is made and at such intervals thereafter as seem desirable. The samples should be of sufficient size to allow these tests to be repeated a considerable number of times; about five pounds of each fiber or pulp should be ample.
The following tests and analyses should be made on each of the papers prepared for this program.
These tests are to be made on these papers, (I) as soon as they are made, (2) after they have been given the usual accelerated ageing test by exposing to a temperature of 50, 75, and 100 degrees C. for 72 hours and (3) after storage of the original papers under specified conditions for various periods of time, as 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 years, etc.
Those portions of the papers and pulps not needed for immediate tests are to be placed in storage as soon as made and are to remain there until the completion of the investigation, except that samples are to be drawn at intervals for repetition of the tests originally made. Two separate places of storage should be selected (1 ) in a city where atmospheric conditions are bad; (2) in a city of similar atmospheric conditions (the same city is possible) but in a building where air washing, filtration and conditioning provide the best possible conditions. Four places of storage have been suggested but only two places are recommended. It is going to be very difficult to secure two good storage places and to inspect and take the necessary periodic samples and it seems best not to add the extra cost involved as a result of having four storage places. During storage the samples should be so placed that access of air is as uniform as possible to all parts of the samples, but dust should be avoided as completely as may be without wrapping the samples.
All the instruments used in these tests are to be carefully inspected for condition and accuracy at the start of the work. They are then to be used for this work only and when not in use are to be kept in storage where they will not be tampered with. They are to be kept in good working condition by any necessary repairs but under no conditions are they to be altered from their original forms.
Before this work is completed new instruments and new methods of testing will doubtless be devised. If it seems desirable these may be used on the same samples of pulp and paper but under no conditions should they supplant or alter the original methods of testing adopted when the work was started.
The methods of analysis are to be the standard TAPPI methods in use at the time the work is started. Even if these methods are improved or altered during the course of the work the original methods should still be followed as long as this work is continued. Copies of the standard methods should be kept on file with the paper samples so that no mistake can be made.
It is recommended that all chemical and physical tests of these samples, whether original or after the various periods of storage, be made at the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis., provided satisfactory arrangements can be made. It is felt that conditions are most likely to be stable at this place, which would insure the continuance of the work with the least uncertainty and change.
There is a very real problem involved in securing adequate samples. It will require 52 samples of two reams (500 sheets) each. Each ream should be 22 x 24 40 pounds for the writings, 25 x 38 60 pounds for the uncoated book, and 25 x 38 80 pounds for the coated book. Most of these samples will have to be especially made and no paper mill could afford to make these special lots. It therefore may be best to pay the Forest Products Laboratory and the Bureau of Standards to make up the lots required. The Bureau of Standards have a coating machine so that all of the 52 samples could be made at these two laboratories.
The average weight per ream is approximately 60 pounds therefore 52 samples x 2 reams each=104 reams of 60 pounds=6300 pounds of paper. Assume a cost of 50 cents per pound and the total cost is $3,150.00.
The following testing equipment is required:
| Mullen Tester | $275.00 |
| Tear Tester (Elmendorf) | 130.00 |
| Schopper Folder | 475.00 |
| Tensile Tester | 425.00 |
| Gloss (Ingersol) | 250.00 |
| Opacity (Bausch & Lomb) | 350.00 |
| Sheet Scale (Schopper) | 75.00 |
| Thickness Gauge | 100.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 200.00 |
| $2,280.00 |
It has been estimated that it would take one man, 6 months to make all these tests and the necessary checks. The cost is estimated at $2,500.00.
Tests at the 5, 10,15, 20 and subsequent periods are estimated to cost $2,000.00.
Tabulating the above costs as follows:
| 1st Year | Succeeding Test Periods | |
|---|---|---|
| Samples | $3,150.00 | ....... |
| Testing Equipment | 2,280.00 | ....... |
| Personnel | 2,500.00 | $2,500.00 |
| Incidental | 500.00 | 250.00 |
| 8,430,000 | $2,750,000 |
If the tests are carried on for 100 years this means 13 test periods at a total cost as follows:
| 1 at $8,430 00 | $8,430 00 |
| 12 at $2,750 00 | 33,000 00 |
| Total cost for 100 years | $41,430 00 |
This plan provides samples for at least 200 years, or 23 test periods.
This committee recommends storage in two places, both in New York City if possible if suitable places can be secured. The second choice would be Washington, D.C., as it should be possible to secure space for one set of samples in the New Archives Building there with its nearly perfect storage conditions.
It is further recommended that the actual testing work be done at the Forest Products Laboratory as being the most likely to remain in existence, due to the importance of pulp wood to the paper industry.
This committee further recommends that the Executive Committee of TAPPI appoint a special committee to determine:
The above program and recommendation is herewith submitted and has the full approval of your Permanence and Durability Committee.
F. C. Clark, Chairman, Helen U. Kiely, John L. Parsons, Edwin Sutermeister, E. O. Reed, B. L. Wehmhoff and M. S. Kantrowitz.
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