Humidification

Paper Summary:

Humidification is the gradual introduction of moisture into an absorbent material. Although excessive humidity can prove detrimental to works of art, its gradual and controlled introduction to either the object (direct humidification) or its support (indirect humidification) can have beneficial effects to the object itself and is one of the most widely used methods for the restoration of parchment, vellum and paper. This paper discusses and evaluates various humidifying techniques such as felt blotter washing or the use of Gore-tex membrane.

From the Paper:

"In the case of paper, the conservator can use humidification techniques for the removal of stains and for relaxing the fibres of cockled or curled paper, as well as, for the application of a suitable support necessary for the future preservation of the object. The capillary action of the paper fibres ensures the spreading of moisture when water is dripped onto a stain. The halo effect, i.e., the ring formed by the circular spreading of the drop, can be controlled or eliminated by wetting the area around the stain and by using dry blotters to lift the humidity and dissolved dirt off the surface of the paper. In the case of delicate materials that tend to distort or bleed when pressure is applied on them, the suction table, which holds the paper in close contact with the blotter and facilitates the absorption of the dissolved stain by the dry blotter placed underneath, is the best method conservators can use."

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