Conservation Grease Effect on Physical and Сhemical Parameters of Book Cover Leather
Four conservation greases were investigated: Ledervaselin (“Maroquine”), Cire 213 (BnF), SC6000 (“Deffner & Yohann”) and grease based on lanoline, vaseline and cedarwood oils which is now in use for conservation in the National library of Russia (“LVK”). Greases’ effect on book cover leather was estimated by the following parameters: durability, elasticity, hygroscopicity, general colour change. All four oiling agents had no negative influence with leather, therefore they can be used for treating book cover leather, however in doing so the specific effect on leather of any one of the lubricants should be appreciated. Leather without finishing dye darkens after treatment by any greases. Conservation greases SC6000 and Cire 213 had the least influence with leather of such kind. Artificial ageing had the least influence with leather treated by conservation grease Ledervaselin: neither hygroscopicity, nor elasticity of leather had any changes. Conservation grease “LVK” imparts to leather ultimate elasticity.