cause of adhesive stain

[GrumbleMike2]

I opened a frame today 30+yrs acid free mats and backing to find some light damage and a stain associated with the hinge paste, usually this paper (mulberry) would suggest a framer trying to do everything to avoid this. I'm wondering if anyone has an answer as to what adhesive did this and or if something went wrong or a light reaction,

thanks
M

 

[Dave]

Could be that they used tap water with a high mineral content to make the paste for the hinge?

 

[JFeig]

30+ years ago there was either standard mat boards made from wood pulp or 100% cotton boards.

There were no buffered boards. There were no Alpha Cellulose boards. Are you sure of what type of boards were used?

 

[Framing Goddess]

Mike, it's hard to tell from your photo. I would need a few more clues to form any wild speculation, cockamamie conjectures or crackpot theories.
Was there anything in the frame package that related somehow to this stain? Something that mirrored it?
Or is it a stand alone, "rogue" stain?
Is the stain on the artwork? Is there anything on the reverse of the artwork that relates to it?
If there is nothing, I might say that it could be related to something that happened in the papermaking or printing process.
Hard to tell.
Tell us your theories.

Jerome, when I started framing in *koffkoff* 1981, we were definitely using a whole range of colors of Alphamats routinely. Or I could be remembering wrong, but that's never happened. (heheh*koff*)

Edie the crackpotsometimes goddess

 

[preservator]

Given the age of the hinge, it is possible that the paste use may have had a fungicide added to it, which have been seen to cause stains of a similar hue. It is that realization that has caused the reocmmendation that fungicides not be added to hinging paste.



Hugh

 

[GrumbleMike2]

thanks for all your replies, sorry the pic was so poor. Potential fungicide in the hinging paste, another reason to have your framed paper art inspected.

 

[Rebecca]

Might not have been starch paste; could have been stick glue (uhu) and that does discolor over time, or wall paper paste...

It might also have been applied too thickly, so attracted moisture, that kickstarts bad chemical reactions (like the gummed paper tapes in the photos I posted on Facebook). And/or, applied with too much water so it moved or absorbed additives in the paper (sizing, fillers etc.) and later reacted...