Stability of Ink Pencils and Stamps in Butanol Vapors during Standard Disinfection Procedures

SUMMARY: The effect of butanol on the stability of recording media used for labeling and identifying library items was examined. Alcohol has long been used for disinfecting library collections due to its effectiveness against bacteria, molds, and viruses. Research on the disinfection of archival and library collections has shown that butanol vapor is gentle on treated materials. However, the use of butanol can cause unacceptable changes in colour media, such as dye bleeding or colour shifts. The aim of this study was to observe visual changes in ink pencils and stamp colours after exposure to butanol vapors. Experiments were conducted on paper samples with various ink pencils and stamp colours, and fixatives intended to prevent unwanted spreading were also tested. The results indicated varying stability in butanol vapors, depending on the type of ink and its fixation method.

KEYWORDS: disinfection, library, stamps, ink pencil, paper, conservation, butanol vapors, fixation