Hacia una mejor comprensión del foxing en el papel:: precursores, fuentes y características

Paper is the most commonly used medium for historical records, yet it is susceptible to aesthetic and mechanical transformations caused by biological, chemical, or physical factors. The effects of deterioration are often visible through foxing stains. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the various hypotheses regarding the origins of foxing on paper, given its complexity, destructive potential, and the mechanisms that remain unclear. This review proposes a multifactorial explanation for foxing, applying the concept of the “disease triangle” and attributing the phenomenon to the action of microorganisms, the conductive environment and interactions with the susceptible substrate. Understanding the nature of foxing is a key issue in paper preservation and should be considered a priority in conservation strategies for archives and museums. Multifactorial experimental studies are necessary to try to facilitate the precise identification of the genesis of this process.