A microfading survey of the lightfastness of blue, black and red ballpoint pen inks in ambient and modified environments

Abstract

The lightfastness of approximately 100 randomly selected red, black and blue inks was surveyed using the microfade technique. The inks’ responses were recorded at 55% and at 1% relative humidity (RH) in air, and in a low oxygen environment (<10 ppm O₂) at 55% RH. Their light sensitivity in air was highly unpredictable, ranging from the detection limit of the technique to several times greater than the most fugitive ISO Blue Wool Fading Standard (BW1). With very few exceptions, the response of blue and black inks was markedly suppressed in anoxia, and the opposite was true of a significant proportion of red inks tested. The correlation between RH and light-sensitivity in air was weak, with highly variable responses in both directions. The results show that it is not possible to make useful display (light exposure) recommendations for ballpoint pen inks without prior fade-testing.

Keywords:

• Ballpoint
• Ink
• Microfade-testing
• Anoxia
• Relative humidity
• Lighting guidelines

Author biographies

Bruce Ford is a Research Fellow at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) and an independent conservation science consultant to collecting institutions in Australia and elsewhere. He also works occasionally as a rock art conservator and researcher. He has a BSc Hons (Chemistry) from the University of Canterbury, Post Graduate Diploma (Conservation) from the University of Canberra and an M. A. (Museums and Collections) from the Australian National University. His current interest is the photochemistry and lightfastness of cultural material; in particular the application of microfade testing to the display of gallery and museum collections and the technique’s use as a research tool.

ORCID

Bruce Ford http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2097-4825

Materials

Oriel Fading Test System, Model 80190 (discontinued) Newport Corporation, 8 East Forge Parkway Franklin, MA 02038 United States Tel: [phone], https://www.newport.com/

International Light Radiometer, IL1400 with SPL024F detector, International Light Technologies, Inc., 10 Technology Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USA, Tel. [phone], www.intl-light.com

BOC Gas Australia

10 Julius Avenue, North Ryde NSW 2113, [phone], www.boc-limited.com.au

Ageless Oxygen Absorber

Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, Mitsubishi Building, 5-2, Marunouchi 2-chome Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100- 8324, Japan,Tel.[phone], http://www.mgc.co.jp/eng/products/abc/ageless/

Tinytag View 2

Gemini Data Loggers UK Ltd, Scientific House, Terminus Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8UJ, United Kingdom, Tel: [phone], https://www.geminidataloggers.com/data-loggers/tinytagview-2