THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF TWO MAGNESIUM BASED DEACIDIFICATION METHODS ON THE STABILITY OF THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAPERS.

The degradation and embrittlement of paper is due to the depolymerization of cellulose fibers; this is induced by acidity and oxidation. An important part of dealing with these chemically unstable materials is the neutralization of acid and deposition of a buffer reservoir to protect the fibers from introduction of acid in future. Paper deacidification is a fundamental process for achieving this goal. Any deacidification method chosen must be able to treat large numbers of items, safely, quickly and cheaply. The main goal of this paper was to investigate the effect of two deacidification solutions, which have never been used in Egypt, on the chemical and physical properties of different types of paper in order to find an alternative to Calcium hydroxide the most common deacidification method used in Egypt. Magnesium salts have been chosen to produce two deacidification methods, one of them in aqueous media, and the other in nonaqueous media; however, the magnesium has excellent deacidification properties and never have been applied in Egypt before. This paper is concerned with the Evaluation of Magnesium Bicarbonate (MBC) and Methyl Magnesium Carbonate (MMC), as neutralization agents, on the stability of paper substrate before and after accelerated ageing. Deacidification of acid paper samples (old book and newspaper) coming from wood pulp (20 century) and whatman paper samples, has been carried out with elaborate findings. Examinations and scientific analyses have been used in the assessment of treated samples, to figure out the efficacy of the two methods on the paper stability. Both methods have adequate deacidification properties; the pH value of paper has increased after deacidification. Mechanical testing and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have proven considerable stability of mechanical and chemical properties of deacidified paper after accelerated ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]