Abstract: A process for the treatment of archival material such as books and other bound volumes. The treatment includes a radiation-induced polymerization within the paper of the archival material of at least one mono-unsaturated vinyl monomer, selected from the esters of acrylic acid and .alpha.-lower alkyl-substituted acrylic acids, and at least one multi-unsaturated vinyl monomer. The process, which is carried out in a substantially non-aqueous solvent-free system, may be used to improve the structure of paper as well as to provide some protection against past and future degradation of the paper.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of archival material such as books and other bound volumes. The treatment includes a radiation-induced polymerization of at least one vinyl monomer within the paper of the archival material. The process, which is carried out in a substantially nonaqueous system, may be used to improve the structure of paper as well as to provide some protection against degradation of the paper.