DEGRADATION OF COMMON PAPERS USED FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES. TRANSVERSAL STUDY (2003-2012)

Abstract

In terms of photographic preservation, the papers that come into contact with the printing support and the image itself are considered as direct factors. In optimal conditions, a direct sleeve with the paper support, would have a sufficient quality to counteract the acidity of the result of a photographic process, which degrades with the passage of time. The present cross-sectional study aims to inform palpably the users of archives and libraries that currently handle photographic materials on paper, the values obtained in the pH and percentage of calcium carbonates taken in 21 papers commonly used in archives in central Mexico. This paper presents the results of the comparisons made in 2003 and 2013. Given that the values obtained indicate an increase in acidity over time in the measured papers; Attention must be paid to the time that can be kept in the sleeves not declared as conservation material and in materials where the value of carbonates is not specified. The results obtained show that the condition of non-acidity declared in the preservation papers is not enough to be considered as quality for archival, but rather a load must be ensured in the calcium carbonates, thus ensuring the permanence condition as a preservation support.