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Specifications for Paper Enclosures for the Storage of Microfiche

Specification Number 100-133-7/2/02

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 value of 8.0 - 9.5 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 a 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. 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 revision. 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. 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.
   

7. 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.
8. Surface Smoothness:
   The stock should be smooth, e.g., calendered, hot-rolled, and water polished so that surface fibers do not offset onto photographic material. The stock should be free of knots, shives, and other abrasive particles. The stock should show a smoothness within the range of 175 to 210 Sheffield units, when tested according to TAPPI 538 om-88.
   
9. Thickness:
   Typical thickness will be 0.0045 ± 0.001" unless otherwise specified on the purchase order.
   
10. Adhesives:
    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. The adhesive should have no harmful effects on the photographic silver image or cause staining of the photographic emulsion. The adhesive should not contain sulfur, iron, copper or other ingredients that may be detrimental. Pressure sensitive, rubber-based, or either linked adhesives are unacceptable. The adhesives should not contain or generate oxidants. Adhesives should pass the Photographic Activity Test and meet the requirements of ISO 14523-1999, or latest revision. The adhesive should not extend past the seam on either the inside or outside of the enclosure.

B. Workmanship

All enclosures must show good workmanship, edges must be straight, side edges must meet exactly, and corners must be 90 degrees. The enclosures must be clean and free of dirt, marks, stains, surface or edge damage, or other imperfections or contaminants which would affect its utility or appearance.

C. Identification

• Information:
  Each enclosure must be individually stamped on the outside, on a seam flap, with the name of the supplier or manufacturer, year of manufacturer, the actual pH and "P.A.T." using 10 point type size.
  

• Ink:
  The inked areas of the enclosure should pass the Photographic Activity Test as described in ISO 14523-1999. The ink must not smear, bleed, fade, or rub off after drying. The inked stamp impression must be neat without excess ink and there must be no penetration to the interior of the envelope. There must be no ink on the inside of the envelopes from any source.

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 constructed to ensure that the paper arrives 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 Contract 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	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
   Photographic Activity Test	pass	ISO 14523-1999 or latest revision
   Folding Endurance	75 MD	TAPPI T 511 om-88, and TAPPI T 402 om-88
   Color Bleeding	none	See above, "I. 7. Color"
   Color Retention	< 5 points	TAPPI T 452 om-92
   Smoothness	175-220, Sheffield	TAPPI 6538 om-88
   Thickness	0.0045±0.001 inches

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 Enclosures for the Storage of Microfiche

A. Construction for all enclosures, illustrated below

• The enclosures are constructed from a single piece of paper with side seams of folded flaps of paper adhered to the outside.
• The full drop between the front and back sheets of envelopes should be between 3/4".
• The seams should be on the sides only. Center seams are not acceptable.
• The seams should be sealed along the complete length of the seam by an adhesive which is at least 1/8" away from the fold edge.
• The width of the adhesive should be as narrow as is still functional.
• The seams should be smooth and flat with no puckering.
• There must be no adhesive which extends beyond the flap on the inside or the outside of the enclosure.
• The gap between the fold of the seam flaps and the back sheet of the envelope should not be more than 1/32-1/16" on the inside.
• There should be no thumb cuts.
• The enclosures must lie flat and not curl.

B. Dimensions
Dimensions should follow standard microfiche sizes allowing for insertion without binding and fit into standard sized containers for storag, unless otherwise specified on the purchase order.

III. INSPECTION: Paper Enclosures for the Storage of Microfiche

An examination will be made to determine whether the items comply with the all requirements. 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

• Color must be white, off white or otherwise specified.
• Edges must be straight, side edges meet exactly and corners 90 degrees.
• Sizes should be accurate.
• Identifying information should be stamped, without smearing, on a seam flap and include the name of the supplier or manufacturer, year of manufacturer, actual pH and "P.A.T." using 10 point type size.
• The ink should not smear, bleed, fade or rub off after drying.
• Construction for all enclosures
  • The enclosures are constructed from a single piece of paper with side seams of folded flaps of paper adhered to the outside.
  • The full drop between the front and back sheets of the envelopes should be 3/4".
  • The two seams should be on the sides only. Center or bottom seams are not acceptable.
  • The seams should be sealed along the complete length of the seam by an adhesive which is at least 1/8" away from the fold edge.
  • The width of the adhesive should be as narrow as is still functional.
  • The seams should be smooth and flat with no puckering.
  • There must be no adhesive which extends beyond the flap on the inside or the outside of the enclosure.
  • The gap between the fold of the seam flaps and the back sheet of the envelope should not be more than 1/32 - 1/16" on the inside.
  • There should be no thumb cuts.
  • The enclosures msut lie flat and not curl.
• Dimensions should follow standard microfiche sizes allowing for insertion without binding and fit into standard containers for storage, unless otherwise specified on the purchase order.
• The Inner Wrapper must be according to the 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.