The Dark Side of Iron Gall Ink:

Corrosion and Conservation

Presentation by Emma EsperonLibrary Studies 490

A Brief History

Middle Ages to the 1900s.

Predecessor: Carbon Ink

Successor: Synthetic Inks

Drafts of American Constitution

Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks

Ink Drawings Done by Rembrandt and Van Gogh

IngredientsTannin from Galls on Trees (below)

Vitriol aka Iron Sulfate (left)

Gum Arabic, the binding agent (bottom left)

Water

Ink Corrosion Evolution Model

1604 1807

Environment and Handling

Signs of Corrosion

Bleeding and Discoloration Around

the Ink

Change of Ink Color and Opacity

Cracks Cause Holes in the Ink

Risk AreasLarge Areas of

Ink

Heavily Applied

Treatments:Wash or Paper

SimmeringSubmersion in Near Boiling Water90°C Water for 15 minute incrementsDissolves 50-100% of iron (II) ions most of the acidsConsequences: paper shrinking, bleeding

Treatments:DeacidificationAqueous TreatmentMagnesium carbonate, Calcium bicarbonate, or Magnesium bicarbonatePrevents Acid Hydrolysis (starch sugar) Alkaline Treatment

neutralizes the acids left by the Sulfate in the VitriolThe excess Iron remains in the document to rust over timeConsequences: Paper Yellowing, Ink Bleeding

Treatments:Phytate

Calcium-Phytate / Calcium-BicarbonateThe Phytate chelates

Binds the iron (II) and iron (III) ionsStops the Oxidation Process

The calcium-bicarbonate is a deacidifer

Neutralizes the acidic components of the ink

Consequences: white powdered precipitate that can be easily brushed away

No TreatmentOriginal Blotting

Sand Remains on Ink

(right)

Treatment removes Original Character of the record

Treatment fundamentally changes the composition of the record

Cannot Prove History: No Dating Provenance Authorship

Before

Deacidification

After

Paper Simmering Consequences (below)

Thoughts? Preserve First!

Cool Environment

Low Moisture

Conservation

Calcium-Phytate / Calcium-Bicarbonate Method

Lesser Side Effects

No cracking, bleeding, blotting, fading,

Stops the oxidation and the acid hydrolysis

Works CitedBanik, Gerhard, et al. The Iron Gall Ink Website. Ed. Birgit Reissland and Frank Ligterink. European Commission on Preservation and Access, Bureau Metamorfoze, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, 13 Feb. 2011. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://ink-corrosion.org/>.

Louisiana Binding Service, Inc. "LBS-A Unique Line of Solutions: Deacidification." Document Preservation Specialists. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.louisianabindingservice.com/solutions.html>.

Morenus, Linda Stiber. “In Search of a Remedy: History of Treating Iron-Gall Ink at the

Library of Congress.” The Book and Paper Group Annual 22 (2003): 119-125. Web. 16 Apr. 2012 PDF File. < http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v22/bp22-23.pdf>.

Pedersoli, Jose Luiz, Jr., and Birgit Reißland. "Risk Assessment." N.d. PDF File. <www.viks.sk/chk/res_4_03_205_226.doc>.

Reißland, Birgit, and Suzan De Goot. "Ink Corrosion: Comparison of Currently Used Aqueous Treatments for Paper Objects." N.d. PDF file. <cool.conservation-us.org/iada/ta99_121.pdf>.

Shamayim, Melechet. "Dyo Making." The STa"M Forum. Ed. Eli Gutnick. Blogger, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://stamforum.blogspot.com/2012/03/dyo-making.html>.

Schell, Laura. "Process." Laura Schell Paper Conservator. N.p., 2009. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.paperconservationwny.com/process.htm>.

Tse, Season, et al. "The Effect of Simmering on the Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Paper." Restaurator and Canadian Conservation Institute Newsletter 36 (Fall 2005): 14-35. Germany. Web. 16 Apr. 2012 PDF file. <http://www.viks.sk/chk/res_1_05_14_35.doc>.