Page "Ink" Paragraph 40

Treatment is a controversial subject.

No treatment undoes damage already caused by acidic ink.

Deterioration can only be stopped or slowed.

Some think it best not to treat the item at all for fear of the consequences.

Others believe that non-aqueous procedures are the best solution.

Yet others think an aqueous procedure may preserve items written with iron gall ink.

Aqueous treatments include distilled water at different temperatures, calcium hydroxide, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, and calcium phytate.

There are many possible side effects from these treatments.

There can be mechanical damage, which further weakens the paper.

Paper color or ink color may change, and ink may bleed.

Other consequences of aqueous treatment are a change of ink texture or formation of plaque on the surface of the ink ( Reibland & de Groot 1999 ).