Microscopic Analysis of Japanese and Wax Paper Used for the Preservation of Written Cultural Heritige
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Iskra Tsvetanska-Tsekova,Journal Veska of Chemical Lasheva, Technology Ivanka Yankova, and Metallurgy, Irena Peteva, 56, 3, Rumelina 2021, 521-525 Vasileva, Silvia Stanchevа MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF JAPANESE AND WAX PAPER USED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF WRITTEN CULTURAL HERITIGE Iskra Tsvetanska-Tsekova1, Veska Lasheva2, Ivanka Yankova1, Irena Peteva1, Rumelina Vasileva1, Silvia Stanchevа1 1 University of Library Studies and Information Technologies Received 15 January 2020 119 Tsarigradsko shoes blvd., 1784 7-Mi Kilometar, Sofia Accepted 20 June 2020 2 University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy 8 Kliment Ohridski, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The paper is an integral part of our cultural development. Its’ properties are determined by the properties of the fibrous materials of which it is composed by and from the technological regime in its production. The good knowledge of the fibrous materials used, their chemical composition, morphological and anatomical structure in the restoration practice is essential for proper conduction of the recovery procedures. In world restoration practice, Japanese paper is the most often used material for the renovation of paper documents. The examination and microscopic analysis of Japanese paper contributes to its proper use in restoration practice. Keywords: restoration, paper, fibrous materials, Japanese paper. INTRODUCTION thin sheet. The properties and parameters of the different types of paper depend on the nature of the plant fibres, During the long-term storage, all paper documents on the processing of the fibres, on the composition of undergo a series of physic-chemical changes related to the paper (percentage of fibres, fillers and sizing agents), natural aging. It is impossible to stop the natural aging on the paper-forming technologies and the subsequent process, but it can be slowed down through proper stor- finishing processes. The cellulose fibres in the dry pa- age as well as through limited and careful use. The paper per sheet are connected each other mainly by hydrogen needs to be restored in order to increase the durability bonds. Cellulose fibres have many valuable physical of the stored paper materials and, if possible, to return properties - whiteness (colour), flexibility, elasticity and them to their original form. Conservation and restoration mechanical strength. Under mechanical pressure they operations are carried out in order to protect documents have the ability to change their shape without break- from the negative effects of the external environment and ing. Each cellulose fibre is a cell whose shell consists to strengthen their sustainability. The classic restoration mainly of polysaccharide cellulose. The structure of is reduced to strengthening the paper sheets, using paper the cellulose cell cover is anatomically a complex that and adhesives necessarily close in composition and prop- has a fibrillary structure. Chemically, cellulose is a high erties to the original material of the document. Several molecular mass compound that belongs to the group of types of Japanese paper and mice tape are used. For polysaccharides. The cellulose macromolecule is made the most valuable documents, extremely thin specially up of repetitive structural units - β-d-glucose residues produced silk materials are used. (C6H10O5)n. The number n or the degree of polymeriza- The paper is an elastoplastic, capillary porous sheet tion indicates how many times the structural unit is material consisting mainly of plant fibres, processed in repeated in the cellulose macromolecule and character- a certain way and firmly connected to each other in a izes the molecular chain length and the molecular mass. 521 Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 56, 3, 2021 The degree of polymerization, for celluloses of different EXPERIMENTAL origins, is not the same. For example, for wood cellulose Microscopic analysis it is equal to 3,000, for cotton - 12,000, for linen - 36,000. The microscopic analyse of cellulose and paper The connection between the individual structural units materials, is a specific analyse generally used to deter- is made through the oxygen bridge of the first carbon mine the fibre composition of the paper and to study the atom of the single glucoside and the oxygen atom at the structure and size of the source fibres. Small amount fourth carbon atom of the neighbouring nucleus. At the of test fibres (pre-milled mechanically) is placed in a hydrolysis of cellulose, under the action of water and porcelain pounder with a few drops of 1 % NaOH. This heating, in the presence of a catalyst (hydrochloric acid) is followed by rinsing the sample several times with is obtained monosaccharide - glucose. Each structural distilled water on a fine, metal mesh. Three samples of unit of the cellulose molecule has three free hydroxyl fibres have to be placed on a glass slide, distribute well groups. Due to the presence of hydroxyl groups in the with the help of pins, and remove excess water with cellulose molecule, hydrogen bonds appear between the help of filter paper. A drop of Herzberg’s reagent the molecular chains, which ensure the formation of a (Cl - Zn - J) is dropped on each of the samples and sheet of paper with optimal strength [1 - 6]. The hydro- again very carefully the fibres should be distributed. gen bond occurs between the closely spaced hydroxyl Finally, the samples are dried at about 60°C with a lamp. groups of two neighbouring cellulose molecules. During After cooling down to room temperature, each sample the long-term storage of paper, in the form of archival is covered with a thin glass slide, so the fibre samples materials or books, under the action of various physic- to be evenly distributed, free of accumulations and air chemical factors, processes of decomposition of cellu- bubbles. Stained fibre samples were observed under a lose macromolecules to low molecular mass fractions microscope at different magnifications. and most often to hydrocellulose, which has a low degree To determine the type of fibres, the peculiarities of of polymerization, water instability and greatly reduced their structure are studied - shape and size (whether they strength, occur. When the cellulose is oxidized during are flat or cylindrical); presence of tubules - size and storage, the resulting oxy-cellulose, depending on the shape; appearance of their ends; size, type and location degree of oxidation, changes to a powdery mass. Cel- of the pores, as well as the size and shape of the cells. lulose is a highly hygroscopic substance, as a result of The colour and morphological features of the fibres de- which it always contains a certain amount of water. This termine the type of raw material from which the paper property of cellulose fibres is also due to the presence sample is obtained. The Herzberg reagent stains the of hydroxyl groups contained in the molecule. When fibrous materials in the following ways [10]: paper is in an atmosphere that contains water vapour, - Cotton, linen and hemp - pale to intense pink - red; it absorbs it until the occurring of equilibrium in the - Cellulose - blue to violet colour, while the sulphite paper-atmosphere system. The absorption of moisture cellulose is coloured more intensely, and the sulphate - from air by the cellulose macromolecule causes the paler and darker with brownish hues; cellulosic fibres to swell, increasing its volume several - Wood pulp and semi-cellulose - from light yellow times. The papers used in the restoration practice have to yellow-brown colour depending on the yield; a different fibrous composition. Microscopic analysis in - Wool - pale yellow colour; paper production helps to study the structure and size - Artificial fibres - blue colour; of the source fibres, as well as to determine the fibre - Acetate fibres - yellow colour; composition of the used papers. Under different detec- - Synthetic fibres – without any colour. tors, fibre colouring depends primarily on their chemical For the microscopic characterization of the natural composition, as well as on the amount of residual lignin fibres according to their morphological features, the in the fibres itself [7 - 15]. following three characteristics are examined: general The aim of the present work is to make a micro- appearance of the fibres (size and configuration); fibre scopic analysis of the most commonly used in restoration marking (type, size and location of pores, presence of practice Japanese and wax paper with a view to their channel, nature of the ends), accompanying structural appropriate application. elements (core rays, cells and vessels). 522 Iskra Tsvetanska-Tsekova, Veska Lasheva, Ivanka Yankova, Irena Peteva, Rumelina Vasileva, Silvia Stanchevа Fig. 1. Thin Japanese paper Tengujo. - Cotton - the fibres are long, tape-shaped without geneous and of different types. Most of the fibres have pointed edges. Most of them are twisted around their torn ends. axis. Their walls are thin, a wide channel passes in the - Wool - the fibres are round, slightly curved, and in centre, and pores and thickenings are missing. some species have a channel. - Flax and hemp - their fibres are long, round in cross - Synthetic and artificial fibres - have a cylindrical section and with a number of nodular thickenings along shape, long, with a smooth surface [10]. the length. Longitudinal stripes and transverse folds and strokes are visible on their surface. They have a narrow RESULTS AND DISCUSSION internal channel. Different types of Japanese paper are used in the res- - Coniferous (softwood) cellulose – 90 % of the toration practise. Of interest is the microscopic analysis fibres are long ribbon-shaped cells – tracheides. They of the most commonly used types of Japanese paper. have characteristic pores, which are seen as two different Japanese paper is highly valued by the experts around shapes, depending on the type; the world as a high-quality material for repairing damage Pine cellulose - is characterized by large “window” of paper-based objects. Several types of Japanese paper pores, located in groups. samples and a sample of wax paper were studied to de- Spruce pulp - with small and rounded pores.