Extending the durability of old books by atomized deacidification and reinforcement treatments

Old books suffer from aging and deterioration spurred by acidification, oxidation, and other factors. To preserve these important historical documents, it is important to implement deacidification and reinforcement methods to extend their durability. In this study, microdroplets of 75 g/L sodium hydroxide solution were atomized before being utilized to neutralize acidity in the paper. As well, styrene acrylic latex was diluted to 10 times for atomization to function as a reinforcing agent. In addition to studying these methods individually, the effects of simultaneous deacidification and reinforcement were also studied.