Conservation: Understanding Matboards by Jared Davis, MCPF, GCF

atboard is a fundamental component of almost every framed picture. However, understanding Mthe vast range of information and choices available in matboards can be daunting to comprehend. In this article, I’ll aim to provide some useful insights and information about matboard to help you to decipher some of the myths and facts about this vital aspect of our profession. What is the purpose of a matboard? There are two primary purposes for a matboard are to provide protection for the artwork, and to enhance the framing design. t
Protection – The last consumer survey conducted by The primary purpose of a matboard is to both protect and enhance the the PPFA (Professional Picture Framers Association) artwork. But there are different grades of matboard designed for different found that the number one reason why a consumer applications. Understanding which choice to make is important to both chose to custom frame an artwork, was to protect your customer and your business. and preserve the item. So preservation is of primary using a matboard is Profit – given that the introduction importance to your customer. of a matboard can increase both the size and level of A matboard is designed to support an artwork, and value in the sale of a frame. provides safe distance between the artwork and How is matboard made? the glass, so that the artwork doesn’t come into Matboards are comprised of layers of paper, of various contact with the glass. This is because even minor thickness, laminated together. environmental changes can create condensation and moisture build- The papers and core of a matboard are made from either up on the surface unpurified wood pulp, purified alpha-cellulose wood The #1 reason of glass, which in pulp, or in the case of Museum-Grade board, cotton turn could damage linter pulp. why a consumer an artwork if in The primary constituent of any paper is cellulose fibers. chooses to custom direct contact. In Cellulose fibers are made up of chains of molecules the absence of a defined as ‘alpha’, ‘beta’ ,‘gamma’ and ‘hemi’ cellulose, frame an artwork, matboard, then which define the length of the molecular chain and glass spacers are shape of the fiber. is to preserve the recommended to facilitate this The grade and quality of a board is based on the content item. function. mix of these cellulose fibers, which in turn is defined by the purpose and attributes required of the board. However, not ‘Alpha’ cellulose fibers possess the longest and strongest all matboard is molecular chains and offer the highest performance in designed to protect the artwork it touches. Some structure and longevity for a permanent paper or board. matboard such as Decorator-Grade ‘white-core’ matboards, can gradually cause irreparable damage to Alpha-cellulose is sourced from either cotton or wood art through direct contact, over time. pulp, neither of which is ‘pure’ when sourced in a raw form. Both cotton and wood pulp need to go through a t
Enhance – A matboard can help viewer to focus mechanical and chemical purification process to ‘cook’ correctly on the image. This is be achieved through and remove the undesirable components such as lignin a combination of distance, balance, proportion and (wood) and wax (cotton) and dissolve any non-cellulose colour to help enhance the subject matter within its components. The remaining fibers are then washed and display environment. bleached with hydrogen peroxide for further purification From a business perspective, a secondary purpose for and whitening. Buffering agents such as calcium A Brief History of Matboard carbonate (chalk) are then added to the purified pulp to create an alkaline The earliest forms of matboard first used reserve (buffer). were wood panelling, incorporated into a frame, usually decorated and gilded When it comes to the cost of pulp, along with the frame. the higher the % content and quality It wasn’t until the 1400’s when paper of alpha-cellulose and the fewer manufacturing was developed, that impurities it has, the more expensive paper based artworks and matboards, it is. This is why Conservation-Grade in the form of folios, started to become used. The first form of matboard folios boards cost more than other, cheaper used were similar to book covers, to matboards. support, protect, store and transport Any excess processing or recycled thin vellum and paper book pages and artworks. pulp content added, introduces a great proportion of shorter length It wasn’t until glass was developed in the 1500’s that paper could be displayed cellulose molecules, which are not as in a conventional picture frame, along stable. This then lowers the overall with a decorative matboard, designed to grade, quality and price of the pulp. help enhance the artwork. Cotton boards contain longer By the 1800’s the familiar form of alpha-cellulose fibers, because less matboard with a window and a supportive back mount was becoming processing is required to purify the The original patent for commercially common place to store and display raw material. These longer fibers can produced decorative matboard made by paper based artworks. increase the life span of an alpha- Richard Bainbridge in 1891. In 1882, the company “Charles T cellulose board from decades (75-100 Bainbridge & Sons” was founded, years), to hundreds of years. manufacturing stationery and art boards. What is Lignin? Lignin is an organic glue-like In 1891, Richard Bainbridge patented the first commercially produced substance present in raw wood decorative matboard material for pulp which bonds the different pictures – hence the creation of fibers together. When present, this Bainbridge matboards – and this is when lignin oxidizes over time causing the the concept of matting and framing, as cellulose fibers to breakdown and we know it finally arrived. degrade, creating acidic by-products. In the late 1920’s – Cotton-fibre Acid can migrate and become harmful This is a close up of a decorator grade matboard was first commercially to other paper based products produced. matboard that was originally marketed as such as artwork inside a frame. This ‘acid-free’ revealing the long term results In 1979, Bainbridge introduced process where an artwork begins to of buffering saturation and subsequent “Alphamat” which was the world’s first deteriorate becoming discoloured ‘acid-burn’, which is generally caused by the conservation grade board with coloured presence of lignin in the papers and core. surfaces – which changed the whole and brittle is commonly called dynamic of custom framing as we now ‘acid burn’. Only the best quality, by-products that may develop in the know it. Conservation-Grade matboards have future. In 1993, Bainbridge introduced the the lignin removed from their pulp, in patented “Artcare” technology with the order to create a stable and safe board. However, lower quality Decorator- introduction of unique molecular traps Cheaper pulp, such as that used in Grade matboards that market called zeolites, designed to remove and standard Decorator-Grade ‘white-core’ themselves as “acid-free”, may still neutralize harmful pollutants, offering board can still contain lignin, which in contain dangerous acid causing superior archival protection over and elements such as lignin, so they’re above standard conservation boards. time, is going to become acidic and harmful to the artwork. not necessarily completely “free-of- In 2003 – Artcare Microchamber acid”. These cheaper matboards can technology was validated by and Buffering and “Acid-Free” be buffered with just enough alkaline independent study conducted by the Acid is damaging to artwork, and one prestigious Getty Conservation Institute. additive to register a pH level higher way to neutralize acid is to dilute it than 7.0 at the time of manufacture. In 2006 – Artcare Microchamber with an alkaline substance to absorb technology was also validated by an However, this pH may only be independent study performed by the and neutralise the acid. temporary, as the alkaline reserve Library of Congress. Alkaline buffering agents such as can eventually become saturated In 2011 – Artcare Microchamber was calcium carbonate are added to pulp with the acidic by-products over also re-validated once again by another during the manufacturing process, to time, with inevitable outcome of the extensive study performed by the reduce the overall acidity of the board mat becoming acidic and potentially Library of Congress. and even help protect it from acidic harmful to the artwork. Thus a more commonly distinguished by industry suitable for short term, decorative standards between; Decorator-Grade framing – but certainly not suitable (Basic), Conservation-Grade (Better) for items of value, or long term and Museum-Grade (Best). framing. Traditional Conservation-Grade In Australia, basic Decorator-Grade t
matboard such as Artique® matboards are commonly referred meets the minimum necessary to as ‘white-core’ boards, such as requirements for long-term framing ArqadiaTM and NovacoreTM – which of an item of value without any are priced at the more affordable risk of future harm to the artwork point of the market. It is interesting – but not quite to the stringent to note that these Decorator- standards desired by museums Grade white-core boards are not and institutions for preservation of commonly popular or available in This unframed artwork exhibits the culturally significant artwork. irreparable damage of ‘acid -burn’ caused major markets like the US and the Museum-Grade matboard, such by the use of poor quality framing materials UK, and uniquely manufactured for t
as Bainbridge AlphaRag® ArtcareTM and matboards. smaller international markets such - is the highest grade of board as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and accurate description for these boards available which contain the longest China. should be “Temporarily Acid-Free”. and cleanest alpha-cellulose fibers t
Decorator-Grade - The raw material with all layers of the board made It is also important to note that in used in standard white-core board from virgin cotton pulp. The only some cases, alkaline buffering can is a basic, bleached low-grade wood additional additives permissible for actually be detrimental to certain pulp, which is buffered with calcium this grade of board is a buffering types of organic, protein-based carbonate to provide a temporary agent like calcium carbonate and media such as leather, wool and alkaline pH level (Acid-Free) – but SPZ zeolites (patented ArtcareTM albumen photos, in which case a these still may contain lignin. Microchamber Technology) pH neutral, un-buffered matboard is The cheaper dye-based surface recommended. papers used on these boards are As previously mentioned, there Other factors also not colour-fast like more are also other requirements which Apart from the pulp content, expensive pigment-based surface contribute to the classification of a there are also other additional and papers – and thus subject to more matboard. This can be researched in important factors which contribute to rapid fading. These matboards are further detail via links provided at the a conservation grading of matboard, including the quality of the surface papers, colour fastness, the quality Understanding the pH Scale of the bonding adhesives, and metal Acidity or Alkalinity is measured using a pH content. scale which goes from 1 being the most pH acidic reading, to 14 being the most alkaline. For example, in order to meet Level Substance A substance with a pH of less than 7 such as Hydrochloric minimum conservation requirements, lemon juice, is considered acidic, and a pH 1 Acid colourants used in papers need to higher than 7.0 such as ammonia, considered be resistant to fading (especially if alkaline, with 7.0 (pure water) being in the 2 Lemon Juice exposed to standard UV light) and middle, measured as neutral. The presence of 3 MDF bleeding (if ever exposed to moisture any acid in paper, with a measured pH value of Acid or damp conditions). less than 7.0, is considered to be harmful and 4 will cause deterioration. 5 Cheap Prints These minimum requirements are dictated by industry standards, Note that the measured pH level of a product is 6 Foamboard governed by recognised industry not permanent, and can gradually change over time, depending on the chemical interactions Neutral 7 Pure Water bodies and institutions such as of the materials and environmental conditions Conservation the Professional Picture Framers 8 it comes into contact with. This is especially Matboard Association (PPFA), the Fine Art Trade important to consider inside a picture frame. Guild (FATG) and also the Library of 9 Baking Soda A critical point to acknowledge about the pH Congress (LOC) in the US. 10 Ammonia scale, is that it is logarithmic. This means that Alkaline A basic understanding of different that each step up or down the scale is 10 times 11 Bleach grades of matboard that of the previous one. So moving from a pH 12 6 to pH 4 is 100 times concentration, pH 6 to Due to the varying cost raw 13 materials (pulp, core, surface papers), pH3 is 1000 times concentration, and so on. matboards are manufactured to suit 14 Caustic Soda different market requirements, more end of this article. ArtcareTM Microchamber Technology & Zeolites There are also matboards that exceed the minimum requirements for Conservation-Grade and/or Museum- Grade boards, such as Bainbridge® Alphamat ArtcareTM – which contains the patented ArtcareTM Microchamber technology. An increasing number of studies find that indoor and airborne pollutants present a much higher risk than even outdoor pollutants to artworks. These damaging air pollutants (e.g.: nitrogen dioxide) are ever present and harmless to humans, but can be harmful to paper based artwork, and can increase the damage and deterioration James Druzik, Senior Scientist from the Getty Conservation of artwork, even in the absence of UV light. Institute says, “The SPZ zeolite, incorporated in Artcare, is a very viable material for preventive conservation applications. Many Thanks to advances in technology and research, conservators at the Getty are keen on zeolite papers and boards.” Bainbridge introduced a patented technology called Conservation-Grade matboard may be more expensive ArtcareTM. This technology utilizes zeolites - natural when you consider the price difference between using a minerals that are trusted for such applications as purifying standard Decorator-Grade matboard to a Conservation medial oxygen, air filtration systems, odor neutralizing Grade matboard in the overall price of a frame, the actual products, and archival storage boxes. In Artcare difference may not be as dramatic you may fear. matboards, zeolites are incorporated into the manufacture of the board, where they pro-actively trap and neutralize If you’re still not convinced, keep in mind that it should both pollutants from the atmosphere as well as those really be your customer’s decision to pay more for a better generated by the artwork itself. This prevents chemical product to preserve their precious images, so at least damage to the artwork, and significantly enhances the provide them with the options to choose from. artwork’s longevity. Conclusion This revolutionary zeolite technology has been around Regardless of any business or profession you choose - no for decades and has been extensively research by the one ever achieves the status of being ‘the best’ – without industry’s most stringent and independent conservation using the best quality materials. Picture framing is no authorities and institutions and proven to be more different. The quality of your product is vital for your effective at protecting artwork than matboards which only reputation and an essential ingredient for any long-term contain standard buffering agents. business success. What is “Rag” Matboard? At the end of the day, it ultimately comes down to where “Rag” matboard is a term used to describe matboard you want your business to be? If you want your business derived from cotton fiber. Historically this term was first to be the best, it all starts by selling the best. used in the early days of paper-making, when some papers were made from scraps of fabric (rags), which is Jared Davis, MCPF, GCF, has had over 25 years experience in the framing industry, and has authored numerous articles for major industry now no longer the case. The materials used in today’s publications. Jared serves on the international Board of Directors cotton ‘rag’ matboard is sourced from the by-product for PPFA, and is an industry recognised educator at tradeshows and of the cotton production called the linter, which is not conventions around the world. Jared is a Business Development actually the fluffiest part of the “cotton” (used for fabrics) Manager for Megawood Larson-Juhl and can be reached at: jdavis@ but more-so part of the plant itself. mwlj.com.au Note that some ‘rag’ matboards on the market only contain cotton fiber for their core, but their backing and To learn more about industry standards in matboard surface papers are derived from wood pulp sources - thus and conservation framing, you can refer to the following technically not meeting the minimum requirements for resources: Museum-Grade standard. t
Bainbridge ArtcareTM Microchamber Technology: www. artcareframing.com However solid ‘rag’ matboards comprised from 100% t
PPFA Comparative Standards for Matboard: https://tinyurl. cotton alpha-cellulose, such as Bainbridge AlphaRag® com/yd2lh2qu ArtcareTM, offer better long-term strength and composition. t
Library of Congress Specifications for Buffered Matboard: These boards are considered the finest and preferred by https://tinyurl.com/y7m3tqea museums and institutions. t
Library of Congress Specifications for Un-Buffered Matboard: https://tinyurl.com/yco9qxbt Why change to Conservation-Grade matboard? t
Fine Art Trade Guild Mountboard Standards Summary: Your customer’s images are important to them and https://tinyurl.com/y9cxpyvy they deserve to be offered the best. Even though a