Journal of Korea TAPPIISSN:0253-3200(Print)한국펄프종이공학회

Modern records in Korea have been crafted with paper derived either by mixing with wood pulp or solely from wood pulp. In the restoration of missing parts of these types of paper, two primary materials, such as the paper itself and an adhesive, are used for restoring their forms. In the conservation treatment of wood pulp paper, the focus is not only on restoring its original form but also reinforcement of the paper itself. This study compares wheat starch and hydroxypropyl cellulose, commonly used adhesives for restoring wood pulp paper, with methylcellulose, which serves as a reinforcing material for enhancing paper strength. After applying these adhesives to newspapers lined with Hanji, key parameters, such as adhesive viscosity, applied volumes, the physical characteristics of the newspapers, chromaticity, and pH,were measured. Additionally, the conservativeness after deterioration was assessed. The findings revealed that methylcellulose exhibited superior adhesion despite having a lower viscosity compared to the other adhesives. Moreover, methylcellulose demonstrated outstanding tensile strength and folding endurance, with consistent results after deterioration. Regarding pH levels, all three adhesives(hydroxypropylcellulose, wheat starch, and methylcellulose) enhanced the pH levels of the newspapers. In conclusion, compared to previously utilized adhesives, the use of methylcellulose considerably enhanced the physical properties of wood pulp paper and presented excellent results in deterioration stability, which is expected to be effective as an adhesive for reinforcing wood pulp paper in the future.