Adhesives for paper 1870–1920: Recipes and proprietary products

This research examines historical recipes recommended for use on paper-based collections from 1870-1920. The historical development of the adhesives industry is presented, including the use of advertising amongst commercial adhesive manufacturers. A review of binders used during the timeframe of interest was performed, to determine whether synthetic polymers may have been in use.

Recipes were collected from various contemporary sources, including trade books, patents, journals and newspapers. Ingredient lists were analysed statistically in order to determine common ingredients and formulations. Water-resistant formulations were also identified. These included mixtures of binders, plant resins, linseed oil and/or the use of chemical hardeners such as potassium dichromate, tannic acid and alum. Binders such as casein, egg albumen and even starch and flour are less soluble in water and therefore more difficult to remove.

Theories of adhesion and their application to paper substrates are discussed. Physical adsorption and mechanical interlocking are the two most significant adhesion theories that apply to paper. Mechanisms affecting the degree of adhesion on ageing of both adhesive and paper include chain scission, crosslinking, oxidation and interactions with polyvalent metal ions.

Results of analysis for known and unknown adhesive samples are presented. Analysis methods investigated include microscopy, solubility testing, chemical spot tests, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Binder mixtures, small sample sizes and a lack of reference data were the main barriers to obtaining positive identification of samples.

Solubility issues and possible treatment methodologies for insoluble adhesives are discussed. These focus on the use of enzymes, chelating agents, heat and pH adjustment. Regardless of the treatment path chosen, removal of adhesives from paper substrates can be difficult if the adhesive only swells, rather than solubilises, and is inaccessible for mechanical removal.

That is the sum total of the message.

...wood you like [something] a [something] Sunday night with me if you do you send a Postal"

...Mr C. wishes to be remembered to Mr D."

...i got them today and they feel funny but they fit nice am well and all rite will be home saturday morning good nite WBD"

A bottle of Le Page's liquid Glue and...(drum roll) a bottle of Gloy! With Gloy still in it! The Gloy has a "War Economy" label on the back, which tells you to use your old Gloy brush. "You may buy one separately but not for every bottle". Moomie is quite overcome by it all.

See those marks down by Moomie's feet? Fingerprints! That bigger mark below, being pointed at by the pointy thing? A palm print! Now, this is the back of what was the working copy of an architectural plan, so some handling marks are expected. (We'll also overlook the fact that Moomie himself is standing on the map). But bear in mind that oils from your hands transfer to everything you touch. The residue might not be visible at first but will discolour with time.

I have faced this poor map, meaning I have stuck paper onto the front of it. Why would I do that?! You ask. Well, it's in a bit of a bad way, adhered onto linen & having had a rough life & all, & the paper is flaking & delaminating & so on. I'd like to replace the linen lining, so I've applied a temporary facing paper to keep everything together while I do it. Actually I've faced it twice; the first facing wasn't strong enough & the facing paper just popped off when any kind of pressure was applied. You want a weak bond, but not THAT weak. (I brushed funori through the facing paper). Will this one pass the test?? (I suspect not).

In conservation we use a fair bit of "fluted" or corrugated polypropylene board, to make storage boxes & exhibition supports. It's sold under various trade names (e.g. Corflute, Coroplast) & we like it because it's pretty inert - it doesn't off-gas anything much that can damage collection material. But that doesn't mean it's immune from deterioration itself, as this video shows - normally strong & springy, it now fractures & shatters under the slightest pressure. This deterioration is probably light induced and catalyzed by various additives (e.g. titanium white pigment).

Older non-stainless-steel paperclips & staples are a bit of a problem, really. They rust - partly because of contact with the organic acids in the paper. Then the records to which they are affixed go & get themselves wet, & the rust staining spreads. Ruin! By some quirk of chemistry or physics or something many stains that were initially spread by water become mysteriously insoluble in the same on drying.