Model discoloured paper for analysis of aqueous washing and other conservation processes / Untersuchung und Bewertung wässriger Behandlungstechniken mittels gefärbter Modellpapiere / Analyse et évaluation de techniques de traitement aqueux grâce aux papiers modèles colorés

We describe trial production and evaluation of model papers deliberately discoloured in a controlled and reproducible manner during manufacture using modern water-soluble synthetic and natural dyes. The intention was to produce papers in the quantities required to serve as material for research, familiarisation and training in conservation. In the initial evaluation it was possible to demonstrate disparate responses to water by thin, low-grammage, and thick, high-grammage papers and by hydrophilic and hydrophobic papers which in real objects present very different sets of risks and require different methods to mitigate the risks. The evaluation has shown potential of model papers with consistent structure, properties and staining in teaching and experimentation which exceeded the authors' original expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]