Conservation for Kids

In this activity, you will experiment with ways of preserving documents from sunlight damage.

Procedure

1. Cut two lots of six 4 cm x 4 cm pieces of different coloured paper in the colour spectrum red to violet (remember ROYGBIV...!) and two 10 cm x 10 cm pieces of newspaper.

2. Use starch paste to glue the labeled samples onto two sheets of white background paper. Keep the pieces in a vertical line and make sure they are not touching one another. Label the treatment samples "light-exposed" and one "dark control."

3. Place the "dark control" in an envelope or a dark place such as a drawer. Place the light exposed samples in a window (image facing out) so that, if possible, they all receive about the same amount of sunlight each day. Note in your journal if there are differences in the amount of sunlight each receives. Leave the samples there for seven days. Check them daily and record your observations in your chart.

4. At the end of seven days, carefully gather your samples and your controls.

Questions

1. Compare the dark control to the sunlight- exposed control. Note any fading (colored paper) or yellowing (newspaper) differences.

2. Describe the effect sunlight had on materials.

3. Compare your predictions to the results. How accurate were your predictions?

Some interesting facts...

Acid is a chemical substance that can weaken paper and cloth. It can cause these materials to become brown and brittle

Lignin, an organic substance present in wood pulp, becomes more and more acidic as it deteriorates. This produces the "yellowing" of newspaper. Sunlight accelerates the break down of lignin and creates higher acidity and yellowing. The cheaper the paper quality eg newsprint, the higher the levels of lignin.

PVC or polyvinyl chloride, is an unstable plastic that can emit hydrochloric acid. For this reason, photographs or paper items should be stored in ploypropylene sleeves as this is an inert plastic.

Some easy steps to follow...

Acid is the enemy of photgraphs, paper items and other memorabilia. For this reason it is important that any storage or display materials are free of acid, lignin and PVC.

Do's and dont's...

• If you have, or wish to use a scrapbook, to house your keepsakes, you can test the pH of the pages and the item itself using a pH pen. The colour chart will give you a reading of the pH.

• Colour photocopy your memorabilia on to acid-free paper

• Take digital photographs of items and think about ways to "back-up" your data

• Use polypropylene sleeves to house all sorts of memorabilia from certificates to locks of hair

• Use acid free adhesives and archival mounting corners

• Don't laminate as it irreversibly traps dust and contaminants and changes the nature of the item

• Don't use "sticky tape" or other adhesives that may contain acid

• Don't put newspaper in direct contact with other paper as the acid produced by lignin can "migrate" from one to the other

Other activities...

• "Invisible Ink" from lemon juice

• Pharaoh's Findaword

• Pharaoh's Factsheet

• Build your own pyramid

• "Attack of the Creepy Crawlies"