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.