The Science of Scrapbooking: What is Acid-free, Lignin-free, Buffering and Colorfast?

We hear the terms "acid-free" and "lignin-free" when we shop for scrapbook paper and supplies, but do we really understand what the terms mean? Do we understand the true science behind scrapbooking? I recently found a terrific glossary of paper related terms in the Utrecht Art Supply Catalog and did some additional research so I could understand all about the physical contents of scrapbooking paper and supplies. Are you ready for a science lesson?

Let me share what I've learned.

pH - In chemistry, pH is a measure of the concentrations of hydrogen ions in a solutions, which is a measure of acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 and each number indicates a ten-fold increase. 7 is pH neutral; numbers below 7 indicate increasing acidity, with 1 being most acidic. Numbers above 7 indicate increasing alkalinity with 14 being the most alkaline. Paper with a pH below 5 is considered highly acidic (the acid in your fingertips registers at 5.5 on the pH scale). Buffered papers typically have a pH between 8.5 and 9.5.

Acid-Free (Neutral pH) - Products that are without acid in the manufacturing process. Acid free paper has a pH of 7.0. The higher the number on the pH scale, the less acidic the product.

Lignin - A chemical component that is most commonly derived from wood and the cell walls of plants. Lignin contributes to the strength and rigidity of the entire plant and offers a great benefit in the woodworking industry because its durability, but its presence in paper is believed to contribute to chemical degradation. To a large extent, Lignin can be removed during manufacture but the process is lengthy and costly. (source: wikipedia)

Buffering - The neutralizing of acids in paper by adding an alkaline substance (usually calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate) into the paper pulp. The buffer acts as a protection from the acid in the paper or from pollution in the environment. (source: www.artpaper.com)

Colorfast - A color that is resistant to the action of external agents, such as light, acids and alkalis. Paper color that is resistant to change from aging or from exposure to light, heat or other adverse conditions. Color that is non-fading over long exposure to daylight. Lightfast and sun-fast are variations of the term. (source: www.utrechtart.com)

Acid and lignin are the enemies of photographs. Over time lignin in untreated paper will break into acids that will harm your photographs. The presence of acid in your scrapbooking materials will accelerate the aging process and cause photos to become brittle and distort the original coloring of your photograph.

Acid is used in many different manufacturing processes including paper, photo albums, scrapbooks, adhesive and plastics. Today nearly all scrapbooking supplies and photo storage devices are created for archival longevity. However, as early as 10 years ago manufacturers were not as savvy as they are now about the dangers of acid and lignin. You'll want to check your old wedding photos, your baby's first birthday pictures and your grandmother's heritage portraits to make sure they are being stored properly. The aging process can be stopped by simply removing photographs from dangerous storage devices and placing them safely in acid-free and lignin-free photo boxes, memory albums or storage cabinets.

Look for photos boxes, memory albums, plastics and adhesives that are marked photo-safe, acid- & lignin-free or archival quality.

Also be aware of other enemies of your photographs:

Humidity
Extreme Temperature and Fluctuation
Light and UV Rays
Excessive Handling by Human Hands