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Iron Gall Inks
Iron gall ink is also known as iron gall nut ink. The ink colour is purple-black and made from tannin of vegetables and iron salt. It was used as the standard ink for writing and drawing in Europe since the 12th century till the 20th century.

Iron gall ink was considered as the best ink, which was used for many centuries, and became important in the 1100s. Unlike carbon ink, iron gall ink is hazardous to the paper and corrosive. Any document written on this ink will become brittle and fade to brown. Johann Sebastian Bachs original scores were made of this ink. They are in a threat to destruction caused by the property of iron gall ink. Most of his works are stored in the German State Library, and a quarter of them is in the process of decay. There are several factors that cause the writing fades: the ingredient proportion of the ink, the amount of ink put down on the paper, and the paper’s composition. In addition, there are two process of degradation, which cause corrosion: cellulose iron(II)-catalysed oxidation and acid catalysed hydrolysis.

Treatment can prevent this decaying. However a damage produced by the acidic ink cannot be repaired by any treatment. Corrosion can be slowed or even stopped only for some period. Some people think that the item does not need any treatment for any consequences. Others consider that the best solution is the procedure of non-aqueous. Some other think that the last solution may preserve texts written with iron gall ink. This treatment contains calcium bircarbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium phytate, and distilles water at various temperatures. These treatments have many potential side effects. A mechanical damage might happen and it can make the paper grow weak. The paper colour may change and the ink may bleed. A change of the texture or the formation of the ink might happen from the aqueous treatment.

Despite of the damage it may cause to the paper, this ink formula is water resistance and permanent, which made this ink as the standard ink in Europe for more than 700 years. The use decreased when new water proof ink for more suitable writing in paper available in the 20th century. In this century, iron gall ink is produced by artists, who are interested in the old methods.
 
 
 
 
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