In this study, we report evaluation of buff ering and self-sterilizing coating complex obtained by dolomite and zinc oxide particles incorporation into styrene-acrylic layer applied to cotton fabric. Surface properties of the coating were evaluated by SEM, EDS and 3D optical microscopy. Antimicrobial properties were determined using a mixture of G+ and G-bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus mutans) that was in dynamic contact with canvases for 4-100 hours. Alkalizing -buff er capacity of the surface layer supplied to the system by dolomite was tested by the addition of acetic acid. All these properties were simultaneously tested on the same canvases that have been previously exposed to the so-called hot (105 °C) and wet aging (80 °C, 65% relative humidity). The aging was provided in the climatic test room for 144 hours and the properties of canvases before and after aging were compared and evaluated.
The cleaning of particles from smooth and rough paper surfaces using a high-speed CO2 snow jet was investigated. The measurements included characterization of the jet properties, determination of the cleaning efficiency, and evaluation of any possible adverse effects. The method was compared with nitrogen jet cleaning and dry cleaning by commercial materials. The results showed that the CO2 snow jet is able to effectively remove particles from the paper surface and did not cause any observable degradation. The CO2 snow jet cleaning compared with the mechanical dry cleaning showed similar effectiveness without any adverse effects on the paper surface. It was proved that the CO2 snow technique is a suitable method for cleaning common types of paper materials.
Covers and book bindings, especially in library collections, may serve as an important hidden information source for researchers and readers. The article describes the experience of the National Library of the Czech Republic, its Collection Preservation Division, in testing of the X-ray system and Video spectral comparator VSC 8000 to apply non-destructive methods in exploring materials and damages in different layers of the books, and shows its advantages. The systematic evaluation of the X-ray system on the typical examples of book materials of different time-periods showed, that non-destructive radiological methods of book investigation can detect problematic materials and conditions of their destruction beforehand not only in material itself, but in the entire object -the book. It showed that the hidden information can be obtained without breaking or damaging of top layers. Moreover, these materials can be older than the book itself. Video spectral comparator is applied on nonvisible, uneasily recognizable texts, for example faded by light, mechanical or other principle of damage. Thus, gained information serves for historical, art, and scientific knowledge of book binding and texts.
The poor physical condition of paper carriers, not only books but especially older newspapers and magazines, significantly limits their use by the readership and, in the event of their disintegration, leads to an irreplaceable loss of part of the national cultural heritage. The reduced lifespan of manufactured materials, their lower mechanical resistance and frequent visual changes prevent interlibrary loan, limit user copying, and, most importantly, reduce the ability of curators of library collections to retain such damaged documents for future generations or at least until they are digitised. A survey of the physical condition of the collections is the first step in planning the activities of the preservation and conservation of large collections and holdings. It makes it possible to evaluate the most endangered parts of the collection and to plan the sequence of individual interventions for the stabilisation of library collections. The paper presents the survey procedure on the example of the collections of the National Library of the Czech Republic, the form of recording and the possibilities of implementation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.