DEGRADATION OF PAPER NEGATIVES

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Degradation

Contents

[edit] Flaws related to original processing

  • Imbedded dirt in the impregnation (mostly wax)

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005)

  • Stains in the silver image due to impurities in the paper

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995)

  • Irregularities in the image due to uneven spreading of the processing chemicals due to uneven sizing of the paper

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995)

[edit] Deterioration of the paper base

  • mechanical damage like tears, breaks (especially around the corners due to handling), scratches, holes (sometimes due to needles used during printing), missing parts

( DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995; DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005; JENNINGS ET AL., 2005) risk for breaks in paper and impregnation increases with increasing age of the paper negatives due to increasing brittleness with age

(ALBRIGHT et al., 2003)

  • warping

(JENNINGS ET AL., 2005)

[edit] Deterioration of the impregnation (waxed or oiled paper negatives)

  • Bees wax (mostly used in paper negatives)  : brittleness due to hydrolysis and oxidation, light stains due to biological deterioration, cracks (white in reflected light, black in transmitted light, can include a break of paper fibers , can also be originated in production time), dents, imprints by handling or inscriptions (e.g. on the archival envelop), overall even darkening, crystallization

(ALBRIGHT et al., 2003; DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995; DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005)

  • Resin (often added to the wax to manipulate its meting point or solubility): brittleness, darkening, stickiness, shrinking (companied with cracks)

(JENNINGS ET AL., 2005)

  • abrasion

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005)

  • ferrotyping due to archival envelopes made of Polyester

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005)

[edit] Deterioration of the retouching

  • retouching made of iron gall ink can cause oxidation of image silver and disintegration of paper

(DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005)

  • flaking off

(ALBRIGHT et al., 2003)

  • white powdery deposits were sometimes observed on retouching, which were assumed to be mould or more a form of efflorescence

(ALBRIGHT et al., 2003; DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995)

[edit] Other deterioration characteristics

  • aging of former mending like adhesion tapes

(JENNINGS ET AL., 2005)

  • surface dirt

(ALBRIGHT et al., 2003)

[edit] References

  • ALBRIGHT et al., 2003. Albright, Gary E.; Chen, Jiuan- Jiuan; Jennings, Kate. Treatment Options for Paper Negatives. Topics in Photographic Preservation, 10, 19-28
  • DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 1995. Examination and Investigation of the 19th Century Paper Negatives. A Study of the Process, Materials and Deterioration Characteristics. Topics in Photographic Preservation, 6, 1-10
  • DAFFNER, LEE ANN, 2005. Coatings on Paper Negatives. In: Constance McCabe ed. Coatings on Photographs. Washington D.C.: AIC. 66-77
  • JENNINGS ET AL., 2005. Jennings, Katherine; Chen, Jiuan-jiuan; Albright, Garry E.. The Treatment of Wax-impregnated Paper Negatives. In: Constance McCabe ed. Coatings on Photographs. Washington D.C.: AIC. 255-266
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