Decoupling hydrolysis and oxidation of cellulose in permanent paper aged under atmospheric conditions.

In order to investigate a synergetic role of water and oxygen in the degradation of permanent paper in archiving climate, accelerated ageing in three different conditions was conducted: humid air, humid nitrogen and dry air. This allowed to decouple acid-catalysed hydrolysis versus oxidation of cellulose. After ensuring the reliability of the ageing experiment, the degradation state of the paper was assessed.