Gall-10rar Info

It is used by conservators to test manuscripts and documents without damaging them because it is non-bleeding.

Developed by the Conservation Research Department at the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (ICN). Gall-10rar

It identifies the presence of iron (II) ions (ferrous ions). These ions are responsible for iron gall ink corrosion , a destructive process that causes ink to eat through paper (oxidative degradation of cellulose). It is used by conservators to test manuscripts

The test paper is moistened and applied to the ink. If iron (II) ions are present, the test paper changes color (turns a red/purple complex) due to the indicator bathophenanthroline reacting with the iron. These ions are responsible for iron gall ink

The (sometimes referred to as iron gall test paper) is a specially designed, non-bleeding test paper used in conservation to detect iron (II) ions in hydrophilic substrates. Key details about this paper include: