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Specifications for Paper Stock, Unbuffered, for the Storage of Artifacts

Specification Number 100-101 6/18/02

This specification is provided as a public service by the Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress. Any commercial reproduction that implies endorsement of a product, service or materials, in any publication, is strictly prohibited by law. This Specification is written for L.C. purchasing purposes and is subject to change when necessary.

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I. General Specifications - II. Product Requirements - III. Inspection

I. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

A. Stock Composition

1. Pulp:
   • Fiber: The paper stock should be made from rag or other high alpha-cellulose content pulp. It must not contain any post consumer waste recycled pulp.
   • Lignin: The stock must give a negative reading for lignin as determined by the phloroglucinol test when tested according to ASTM D 1030, X5 spot stains and shall have a Kappa number of 5 or less when tested according to TAPPI T 236 cm-85.
   • Impurities: The stock must be free of metal particles, waxes, plasticizers, residual bleach, peroxide, sulfur (which will be less than 0.0008% reducible sulfur as determined by TAPPI T 406 om-88), and other components that could lead to the degradation of the paper and artifacts stored therein.
   • Metallic Impurities: Iron must not exceed 150 ppm and copper shall not exceed 6 ppm when tested according to TAPPI T 266.
   • Optical Brighteners: The stock must be free of optical brightening agents.
2. pH:
   The paper stock should have a pH of approximately 7.0 as determined by TAPPI T 509 om-88, cold extraction (modified by slurrying sample pulp before measurement).
3. Alkaline Reserve:
   The should be no alkaline reserve added to the paper stock as tested according to ASTM 4988-89.
4. Sizing:
   Only neutral or alkaline sizing shall be used. No alum rosin or rosin sizing should be used as determined by ASTM D 549-88.
5. Photographic Activity Test:
   The paper stock must pass the Photographic Activity Test (P.A.T.). Tests to be conducted and results reported as described in ISO 14523-1999 or latest version. Tests should be performed by Image Permanence Institute (c/o Rochester Institute of Technology, Frank E. Gannett Memorial Building, P.O. Box 9887, Rochester, NY 14623-0887. Tel.: 716-475-5199, FAX: 716-475-7230) or other pre-approved laboratory.
6. Basis Weight:
   Will be specified on the Purchase Order or RFP.
7. Folding Endurance:
   The paper stock must meet the minimum requirement of 75 double folds in the machine direction using a 1 kg. load. Tests to be conducted according to the MIT Fold Endurance Test as described by TAPPI T 511 om-88, after conditioning according to TAPPI T 402 om-88.
8. Color:
   • White, off-white or as specified on the purchase order.
   • Bleeding: The color must show no bleeding when soaked in distilled water for 48 hours while held under suitable weight in contact with white bond paper.
   • Retention: The color of the stock on both sides must not change more than 5 points of brightness as measured by directional reflectance at 457 nm (TAPPI T 452 om-92), when exposed 24 hours to a Xenon arc lamp in an Atlas Weatherometer under the following conditions: Irradiance Level: 1.0 watts/m² at 420 nm. Inner filter: Borosilicate glass. Outer filter: Clear soda lime glass. Black panel temperature: 50°C. Wet bulb depression: 8.5°C.

B. Workmanship

Edges should be cut square and clean, and sizes accurate.

C. Identification

The paper stock should contain a watermark which identifies the paper or papermaker and appears approximately once every eleven inches in the machine direction.

D. Packaging

• Inner Wrapper:
  I.D.: Each package must plainly identify the type, size and number of items within, the name of the supplier or manufacturer, year of manufacture, manufacturing run or batch number, actual pH (± 0.2 pH) and "P.A.T.".
• Outer Wrapper:
  The items must be packed in standard commercial containers which are constructed to ensure that they arrive at the Library of Congress in dry, undamaged condition.
  I.D.: The outside of each container must be identified by type, size and number of items within, manufacturing run or batch number, Purchase Order or RFP number and "P.A.T.".

E. Testing

1. Responsibility:
   The supplier is responsible for meeting all the requirements specified herein. The Library of Congress has the right to perform any of the tests set forth in the specification where such tests are deemed necessary to ensure that supplies conform to prescribed requirements.
2. Sampling:
   To sample for testing, shipments will be sampled according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 2.5 percent defective from each lot offered. Copies of MIL-STD-105E are available from Naval Publications and Forms Center; Standardization Document Order Department, Building 4, Section D; 700 Robbins Avenue; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111-5094.
3. Methods:
   Tests will be conducted in accordance with specified test methods of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). Publications describing these tests may be ordered directly from the technical associations at the following addresses:
   • ANSI, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
   • ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
   • TAPPI, One Dunwoody Park, Atlanta, GA 30348
4. Tests:
   

   Requirements		Test Method
   Lignin:	negative/Kappa 5	ASTM D 1030, X5 or TAPPI 236 cm-85
   Reducible Sulfur:	< 0.0008%	TAPPI T 406 om-88
   Iron:	< 150 ppm	TAPPI T-266
   Copper:	< 6 ppm	TAPPI T-266
   pH:	7.0 pH	TAPPI T 509 om-88, cold extraction, slurried pulp
   Alkaline Reserve:	0%	ASTM D 4988-89
   Alum Rosin Sizing:	negative	ASTM D 549-88
   Photographic Activity Test:	pass	ISO 14523-1999
   Basis Weight:	on purchase order	TAPPI 410 om-93
   Folding Endurance:	75 MD	TAPPI T 511 om-88, and TAPPI T 402 om-88
   Color Bleeding:	none	See above, "I. 8. Color"
   Color Retention:	< 5 points	TAPPI T 452 om-92

F. Quality Assurance Inspection

1. Sampling:
   To evaluate non-tested requirements, shipments will be sampled according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 4.0 percent defective from each lot offered.

II. PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS: Paper Stock, Unbuffered, for the Storage of Artifacts

There are no additional product requirements.

III. INSPECTION: Paper Stock, Unbuffered, for the Storage of Artifacts

An examination will be made to determine whether the items comply with the Requirements Sections. The qualities and characteristics which will be examined include the following.

Testing Inspection

• Materials must pass all composition and performance specifications stated in "I. General Specifications."

Visual Inspection

• A watermark which identifies the paper or papermaker should appear approximately once every eleven inches in the machine direction.
• The Color must be white or otherwise specified.
• Edges must be cut square and clean.
• Sizes must be accurate.
• The Inner Wrapper must be according to size and identified as specified.
• The Outer Wrapper must ensure arrival in dry, undamaged condition.

FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE CAUSE FOR REJECTION.