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Specifications for Mat/Mounting Board
for Non-Photographic Material

Specification Number 400-401-8/19/02

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.

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

I. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

A. Stock Composition

  1. Pulp:
    • Fiber: The 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 test according to TAPPI T 266.
    • Optical Brighteners: The stock must be free of optical brightening agents.
  2. pH:
    The stock should have a pH value within a range of 8.0 - 9.5 ± 0.5 as determined by TAPPI T 509 om-88, cold extraction (modified by slurrying sample pulp before measurement).
  3. Alkaline Reserve:
    The alkaline reserve should be a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 5% calculated as CaCO3 when 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. Thickness:
    2 ply: (28 ±2 pts.), 4 ply: (54 ± 2 pts.), 6 ply: (85 ± 2 pts.)
  6. Color:
    The color of the stock will be specified with a sample included with the purchase order. Color must be continuous throughout the thickness of the stock.
    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. The color must not rub off.
    Retention: The color of the stock 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.
  7. Surfaces:
    The surface of the stock will be specified with a sample included with the purchase order. There must be a smooth to moderate texture with no repetitive pattern such as simulated textile patterns unless otherwise specified. The surfaces of the stock must be free of fingerprints, dirt, bubbles, knots, shives and other abrasive particles.
  8. Grain:
    The grain of the outer plies of the board must run in the long direction of all boards, unless otherwise specified.
  9. Adhesive:
    If an adhesive is required, it must not soften or run. The adhesive must not cause the stock to become transparent or alter the color of the stock. The adhesive must not yellow, discolor, or fail (causing delamination) over time. When used, the adhesive must not extend beyond the joined area.
  10. Moisture Range:
    To prevent warping, waving, or curling, the equilibrium moisture range should be between 4 and 7% at time of manufacture.
  11. Additional Components:
    Additional components included in the mat board which may or may not improve the performance of the mat board are not considered within the scope of this specification. Mat board manufactured with additional components will be considered as not meeting the specification.

B. Identification

There should be no identification marks on the board.

C. Packaging

  1. Inner Wrapper:
    Boards should be grouped and wrapped in paper or polyolefin according to size and ply.
    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, and NON-PHOTO.
  2. 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. If straps are used, the boards must be protected from possible damage caused by the straps.
    I.D.: The outside of each container must be identified by type, size and number of items within, Purchase Order or Contract number and NON-PHOTO.

D. 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 acceptance 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, PA 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 address:
    • 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 8.0 - 9.5 pH TAPPI T 509 om-88. cold extraction, slurried pulp
    Alkaline Reserve 2 - 5% ASTM D 4988-89
    Alum Rosin Sizing negative ASTM D 549-88
    Color Bleeding none See above, "I. 6. Color"
    Color Retention < 5 points TAPPI T 452 om-92

E. Quality Assurance Inspection

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: Mat/Mounting Board for Non-Photographic Materials

A. Construction

  1. Sizes must be accurate.
  2. The boards in any order must come from the same batch or run number.

B. Workmanship

  1. Edges should be cut square and clean.
  2. The board must be free of bent corners and delamination of plies.
  3. Surfaces must be free of fingerprints, specks, foreign material (dust, dirt, insects, mold, etc.) and scarring or incising of the board.

C. Dimensions

Will be given on the purchase order.

III. INSPECTION: Mat/Mounting Board for Non-Photographic Materials

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

Visual Inspection

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