Practical Guide: What Makes Records Deteriorate ✓ Most Recent

One of a series of seven articles forming a practical guide to HVAC for museums and historical renovation. Points out that, generally speaking, the more recent the records, the more chemically unstable they are, especially those from the 19th and 20th centuries. States the major chemical deterioration mechanisms of records are oxidation and hydrolysis. Gives examples. Notes major sources of internal contaminants which contribute to oxidation and hydrolysis. Describes the effects of temperature and relative humidity on deteriorative reactions and notes how they can be altered to greatly extend the life of records, in particular books. Discusses the importance of and problems with equilibrium moisture content. Describes improved methods of visualising the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the rate of deterioration of materials. Concludes that the key words for preservation of records are clean, cool, dry and stable.