Effects of Resins and Adhesives on the Preservation of Converted Handmade Papers

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of resins and adhesives on the preservation of a series of dyed handmade papers, called ”multi-colored, gold-embossed papers”. The substrates included filter paper, lab-prepared handmade papers, and commercial water-patterned handmade papers. The resins or adhesives were impregnated into the papers and then 105℃ dry heat was applied for accelerated aging treatment. Changes in the paper strengths and colors were determined afterward. The results indicated that the paper substrates exerted significant influences. Although the commercial paper upon impregnating with various gelatins could markedly increase its folding endurance, after 12 d of 105℃ dry-heat, however, the folding endurance was almost reduced to 0; tearing strength retention was merely 20%. Thus it was not durable and would not be suitable for use as a medium for artistic creations. Individual resins and adhesives exhibited differing effects; they affected the original strengths of the substrate papers, but also the aging responses and changes in coloration. For tearing strength retention, the 2 wet-strength resins, sodium alginate, alum-added gelatin, and starch showed poorer strengths after the 105℃ dry-heat treatment. Resins or adhesives added with an insolubilizer, AZC, were superior to alum, and the effects were more distinctive in filter paper than in handmade papers, mainly because there was no calcium carbonate in the filter paper to neutralize the acidity of the alum.