Preservation Technologies LP

Lee H Leiner

James E Burd

Robert M Gaydos

Edward W Kifer

Thomas D Traubert

An improved method of deacidifying books, imaged paper and other imaged materials having a cellulose base wherein, for a sufficient time to raise the pH of the materials, the materials are treated with alkaline particles of a basic metal oxide, hydroxide or salt dispersed in a hydrofluorether carrier, alone, or in combination with a perfluorinated carrier. A surfactant is added.

Deacidification of cellulose based materials using hydrofluoroether carriers

A method and apparatus are provided for deacidifying cellulose based materials, especially books, magazines, and other bound or folded cellulose materials having a spine. The method includes contacting the materials with a treating medium and producing relative movement at a predetermined velocity between the materials and the treating medium in a direction generally parallel to the spine of the materials and, preferably simultaneously, directing the treating medium by means of a spray toward the materials in a direction generally perpendicular to the spine of the material for a period of time effective for the treating medium to contact substantially all of the material. Following treatment, any excess treating medium is removed from the material and directing any such removed treating medium to a holding tank for reuse later. The movement in a parallel direction is achieved by reciprocating the materials through a tank filled with treating medium. In addition, the materials may be rotated about a central axis of the treatment tank. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus consisting of a treating tank for containing the treating medium, a plurality of material holders disposed in the tank on a reciprocatable and rotatable shaft, and spray nozzles for producing the perpendicular movement of the treating medium relative to the spine of the material.

Method and apparatus for the deacidification of library materials

Deacidification of cellulose based materials using hydrofluoroether

A method for temporarily revealing the presence of a watermark on cellulose-based materials. The method comprises applying one of a perfluorocarbon ard hydrofluorocarbon to at least a portion of the cellulose-based material. The method also provides applying a solution containing both perfluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon to the cellulose-based material to vary the rate of evaporation of the solution.

Method for revealing hidden watermarks

A method and apparatus are provided for deacidifying cellulose based materials, especially books, magazines, and other bound or folded cellulose materials having a spine. The method includes contacting the materials with a treating medium and producing relative movement at a predetermined velocity between the materials and the treating medium in a direction generally parallel to the spine of the materials and, preferably simultaneously, directing the treating medium by means of a spray toward the materials in a direction generally perpendicular to the spine of the material for a period of time effective for the treating medium to contact substantially all of the material. Following treatment, any excess treating medium is removed from the material and directing any such removed treating medium to a holding tank for reuse later. The movement in a parallel direction is achieved by reciprocating the materials through a tank filled with treating medium. In addition, the material may be rotated about a central axis of the treatment tank. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus consisting of a treating tank for containing the treating medium, a plurality of material holders disposed in the tank on a reciprocatable and rotatable shaft, and spray nozzles for producing the perpendicular movement of the treating medium relative to the spine of the material.

A method and apparatus for deacidification of cellulosic materials such as the pages of books, magazines, newspapers, documents and the like are provided which ensures that substantially the entirety of each page is treated. The method includes placing the materials within a carrier such that the pages are free for exposure to the treating medium. The carrier is submerged in a vat preferably containing a dispersion of treating material including particles of an alkaline metal oxide, hydroxide or salt. The vat includes a support frame which supports the carrier and is slidably mounted on the vat such that the carrier and materials it holds may reciprocate in a generally horizontal direction. The reciprocation of the support frame causes the pages of a book, for example, to fan out, and the treating material in the medium thus comes into contact with each page of the book, magazine or other document. After reciprocating the support frame at a preselected speed and stroke length for a preselected length of time such that each page of the book is treated, preferably in its entirety, the carrier is removed from the bath and transferred to a dryer. The dryer includes a flexible meshed webbing which is loosely draped over a series of support rods mounted on a frame. The cellulosic materials are placed on the meshed webbing and preheated air is passed through the dryer to evaporate any excess residual treating medium.

An improved method of deacidifying books, imaged paper and other imaged materials having a cellulose base wherein, for a sufficient time to raise the pH of the materials, the materials are treated with alkaline particles of a basic metal oxide, hydroxide or salt dispersed in an inert perflourinated carrier, preferably selected from the group consisting of perfluoropolyoxyether, perfluoromorpholine and combinations thereof. Perfluoropolyoxyether alkanoic acid is added as a surfactant. Alternatively, when perfluoromorpholine is the carrier of choice, the surfactant may instead be potassium fluoroalkyl carboxylate.

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New Kensington, PA, United States of America

Lee H Leiner