CAN WE SAVE OUR BOOKS?
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ince the mid-1800's, paper has been made from wood cellulose and sized with alum/rosin. Unfortunately this paper-making process is a selfi I destructive one. After only 50 to 100 years, the acid in the paper causes it to disintegrate. All of modern history-the great World Wars, the flight of the Wright Brothers, even the Civil War-is documented on acidic paper. In fact, the Library of Congress estimates that three million volumes in its Law and General Book collection have become too fragile for circulation and that 97% of its collection is in danger of becoming brittle. Obviously the time has come for us to do something to preserve our heritage for future generations. Three components exist for a viable solution. First, documents which are already brittle must be copied onto other media (such as microfilm). Second, the printing industry must adopt acid-free paper. Today's paper industry is already moving in this direction with the help of such Akzo products as Scripset® and grapHsize® surface sizes, products which enable paper to be manufactured in an alkaline system instead of in an acidic one. Finally, a process which can neutralize the acid present in existing paper and establish an alkaline reserve against future acid attack must be utilized. Of the myriad of processes researched, only mass deacidification with diethyl zinc (DEZ) meets the requirements of safety, efficiency and economy. Books can effectively be treated with DEZ for as little as $6 to $10 each. This marks significant savings over the present $70 per volume cost for microfilming. Also, alternate methods for book preservation rely on systems using either chlorofluorocarbons or ethylene oxide, both of which are considered harmful. Akzo Chemicals Inc. was recently granted an exclusive license to commercialize the DEZ deacidification process developed by the Library of Congress. The license governs work done by Texas Alkyls Inc. Our deacidification process is economical, safe and adaptable to the needs of libraries, universities and archival groups. The license has already resulted in our commitment to build two commercial treatment plants in the next few years, each capable of treating one million books per year. An existing Akzo/Texas Alkyls facility is already capable of handling 40,000 books per year. All of us have a vested interest in remembering our past. In fact, you've seen our "Famous Scientists" ads (such as the one on the next page representing Nicholas-Louis Robert, the inventor of the paper machine), for months. So, can we save our documented history? The answer is an unequivocal YES! And Akzo will be leading the way.
AKZO grapHsize is a registered trademark of Akzo Chemicals Inc. Scripset is a registered trademark of Monsanto Corporation. Akzo is the sales agent for Scripset surface sizes. Texas Alkyls Inc. is a joint venture between Akzo Chemicals Inc. and Hercules Incorporated.
Nicholas-Louis Robert in^enteeb#ie paper machine...
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Akzo research creates new paper chemicals.
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n 1798 Nicholas Louis-Robert a clerk in the Didot publishing Company in Paris, became impatient with the laborious process of paper making and the petty disputes of the workers. His solution for doing away with some of the hand labor resulted in a crude, crank-operated machine which formed paper by depositing liquid pulp on a length of wire screen. Robert lived to see many machines (manufactured and marketed by the Fourdrinier brothers) operating in paper mills. He also received 3000 francs in recognition of his work from the French government Yet he died a penniless schoolmaster.
Roberts paper machine was a vast improvement over previous technologies but papermaking was still a slow procedure. Today paper making and printing are high speed processes and uses for paper have grown. Because Fourdriniers now run at speeds of over 3000 feet per minute (up to 100 km/hr), high levels of energy are required to dry the paper, large volumes of water are recycled, and effluent problems arise. The chemical
division of Akzo has created a number of paper chemicals to answer these and other problems. For many problems our solution has been to create entirely new chemical systems. Akzo offers chemicals for improving printability, wet strength, debonding pulp, defoaming, deinking, and water resistance. We're even investigating ways of preserving old paper and making sure that new paper will last for years. Asa matter of fact the chemical division of Akzo offers more than 4000 chemical products to industry. These are produced at 60 sites worldwide in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia. Today, Akzo Chemicals are helping to produce paper to meet the demands of improved printability with reduced energy and fewer effluent problems. Discover how Akzo chemicals can improve your operations by contacting your local Akzo representative or writing for more information.
AKZO Akzo Chemicals Inc 300 S. Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 U.S.A. (312)906-7500
Akzo Chemicals bv Stationsstraat 48 3800 AE Amersfoort The Netherlands 31-33643911
