Paper

What are the most common types of damage?

Paper is vulnerable to physical damage and to the damage caused by chemical deterioration.

Physical damage includes problems such as:

• tears;

• paper losses;

• dog-eared corners;

• dents and punctures;

• creases and folds—paper can split along creases and folds if the paper is brittle or if it is folded and unfolded repeatedly;

• insect attack—paper, sizes and glues are good food sources for some insects. Mice and rats will also eat paper;

• abrasion and general wear and tear from excessive or careless use; and

• distortions caused by fluctuations and extremes of relative humidity and temperature in storage and display environments.

Damage from chemical deterioration includes:

• faded colours and discoloured paper—from exposure to UV radiation and high lighting levels;

• faded colours and discoloured paper—from age of the item itself or the items with which it comes in contact;

• mould attack-mould digests the materials it grows on;

• brittle paper—from the acids produced by the paper or the items with which it comes in contact; and

• damage from pollutants.

Recognising the problems

Some of the common forms of damage and deterioration in flat paper items are listed below. If the damage or deterioration is severe, isolate the item and get advice from a conservator.

Physical damage such as tears and losses can occur easily when items are handled roughly or stored in crowded conditions. Physical damage can also include abrasion, chipped corners, dents, and punctures. Paper with mechanical damage should be handled carefully to avoid making the damage worse.

The edges of this print are torn and damaged, with losses at the corners. Photograph courtesy of the Ian Potter Art Conservation Service, University of Melbourne

Creases and folds can disfigure and weaken paper. Old or brittle material is especially vulnerable because it can split and tear easily.

Foxing is the name given to the small, brown spots that appear in a specific area of the paper or over an entire surface. Foxing is usually caused by mould attack, brought on by a combination of high humidity, temperature and acidity. Other brown spots in the paper can be caused by inherent impurities such as tiny metal particles.

Heavy foxing disfigured this watercolour. The watercolour was treated and the foxing was reduced, but not fully removed. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia, reproduced with permission of the Art Gallery of South Australia

Mould attack can take other forms, and nearly always leaves stains and weakens the paper.

Soiling and staining can cause considerable damage to paper through:

• dirt particles, which are often acidic. These can be caught between the paper fibres, weakening and discolouring the paper, and creating a foothold for insects or mould; and

• self-adhesive sticky tapes, rusting clips and staples, and poor-quality adhesives. They can stain, cause severe damage and be extremely difficult to remove.

The edge of this print was stuck to a backing board with sticky tape, leaving heavy stains. The paper is also foxed. Photograph courtesy of Vicki Humphrey

Discolouration, usually brown or yellow distributed evenly or unevenly throughout the paper, is a sign of deterioration that is generally caused by acidity and/or light damage to the paper. In artwork, the discolouration often appears worse in the margins or on the reverse side, where the paper has been in direct contact with an acidic mount or other poor-quality materials. This discolouration is often referred to as 'mat burn'.

This work has been stained where it was in contact with poor-quality, acidic mount board. Photograph courtesy of the Ian Potter Art Conservation Service, University of Melbourne

Brittle paper, which has become brown and is usually made of poor-quality or impermanent materials such as old newspaper, will deteriorate rapidly when exposed to light for lengthy periods and/or left in contact with other acidic material. Such paper can be extremely fragile and may disintegrate with unsupported movement or handling.

Brittleness has caused this plan to split along the folds. Photograph courtesy of Vicki Humphrey