I have a customer asking for acid-free paper, what is it?
Acid free paper refers to the pH of the papermaking process. Acid free means the paper is manufactured under neutral to alkaline pH’s. Customers request acid free papers when the paper will be in contact with a product sensitive to corrosion or tarnishing. Goods such as film, silverware or electronic components that contain silver will tarnish at an accelerated rate if exposed to acidic conditions. Additionally, acid-free paper is used for archiving important documents to deter yellowing with age. If your customer is concerned about tarnish, in addition to acidity, you need to be aware of the amount of reducible sulfur content of the paper you select, since reducible sulfur is also a key factor in silver tarnishing. Your paper supplier can advise you about their papers’ acidity and reducible sulfur content.
