ASTM International (the American Society for Testing and Materials)
conducted an eight year program of research and test method
standards making which was completed in 2002. Five internationally
distinguished laboratories were involved. The objective of the
program was to sufficiently understand the science of the aging of
printing and writing paper that reliable test methods could be
developed. The test methods were intended to permit all producers
and users of printing and writing papers to reliably predict the
long term stability of such papers.
Three means to accelerate paper aging were studied. They were
elevated temperature, elevated light flux and increased
concentration of atmospheric pollutant gas. The laboratories
involved included the Preservation and Research Testing Lab at the
US Library of Congress in Washington, DC, where temperature
accelerated aging was studied. At the Canadian Conservation
Institute lab in Ottawa, ON, Canada, companion investigations into
temperature aging were undertaken.
Light aging was studied at the USDA Forest Product Laboratory in
Madison, WI and at KCL (the Finnish Pulp and Paper Research
Institute) in Espoo, Finland.
Atmospheric pollutant gas aging was evaluated by the Image
Permanence Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology in
Rochester, NY.
Extensive reports of the scientific studies were written by each
laboratory. To ensure that the findings and conclusions reached were
scientifically sound, the reports were given peer review by panels
of independent, third party scientists and paper conservators. The
happy news was that all five works were found to be scientifically
sound. That meant that the recommended test methods were also found
to be scientifically sound.
As the result of this work, a compact disk has been prepared that
contains all five scientific reports in their entirety. It is now
available for purchase from ASTM at the nominal price of $10.00 in
North America or $13.00 for foreign orders. These prices include
shipping. Those who wish to order a copy of the CD should contact
ASTM International as follows:
The CD is ASTM International's first electronic version of a formal
ASTM Research Report. It is a technical publication bearing its own
reference in published ASTM standard tests as Research Report (RR#)
D06-1006.
It is felt that this scientific information will be important for
libraries, archives, and museums to have in their collections.
Margaret Byrnes of the National Library of Medicine, Susan
Lee-Bechtold of the National Archives and Records Administration,
and Janet Gertz of Columbia University were on the sponsor review
panel as Technical Advisors during the execution of the research
work. They were involved to represent the library, archive and
museum communities. They endorse the recommendation that such
organizations add this document to their collections.
As the outgrowth of the research program, three new test methods
were submitted for ballot in the ASTM process. All three
successfully passed the consensus ballot process and are now
available methods. They can be acquired from ASTM by those
interested in testing the long term stability of either new or old
papers. For those who desire copies, the designation of each method
follows:
Temperature aging method: ASTM D 6819-02
Pollutant aging method: ASTM D 6833-02
Light aging method: ASTM D 6789-02
For questions or additional information on this product, please contact ASTM Standards Manager Thomas O'Toole:
Telefon: 610-832-9739
E-mail: totoole@astm.org
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