Save FB Tweet More. Stack of Old Newspapers. All rights reserved. Close Sign in. The net result is that, as newspapers get older and are exposed to more oxygen, they turn a yellowish-brown color relatively quickly. However, the chemicals used in the bleaching process to make white paper can result in the cellulose being more susceptible to oxidation than it would otherwise be, contributing slightly to the discolorization of the pages in the long run.
Today, to combat this, many important documents are now written on acid-free paper with a limited amount of lignin, to prevent it from deteriorating as quickly. It is important to store the documents or newspaper in a cool, dry, dark place, just like how museums store historic documents in a temperature-controlled room with low-lighting. Additionally, do not store them in an attic or basement; those places can get humid and can have significant temperature swings.
If one would like to display the newspaper or document out in the open, put it behind UV protected glass to deflect harmful rays. Most importantly, limit the handling of said document or newspaper — nothing destroys a valuable piece of paper like frequent handling. This article was originally published on Today I Found out. You can follow their YouTube channel here. Featured image: MaxPixel. Stay updated with all the insights. Navigate news, 1 email day. Subscribe to Qrius.
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Previous Post. Brown kraft paper, the dark brown paper used in grocery store bags, and cardboard are stiff and sturdy because they have more lignin in them, and because those kinds of paper aren't treated with bleaching chemicals. It doesn't matter how dark they are because the printing on them is limited. To make a fine white paper, the mill puts the wood through a chemical solvent process, which separates and discards the lignin.
Pure cellulose is white, and the paper made from it will be white and will resist yellowing. Lignin eventually turns paper yellow because of oxidation. That is, the lignin molecules, when exposed to oxygen in the air, begin to change and become less stable. The lignin will absorb more light , giving off a darker color. Chang says that if newsprint were kept completely out of sunlight and air, it would remain white. After only a few hours of sunlight and oxygen, however, it will start to change color.
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