Little pulping or purification is required because cotton is the purest natural form of cellulose. Rag board is also called Museum Board, is acid-free and meets the standards set by the Library of Congress for museum quality matboard. It is available with or without buffering. It is then buffered for an alkaline reserve to protect against airborne contaminants. Standard matboard is acidic and should not be used with any work of monetary or sentimental value.
Crescent offers a standard matboard with acid-free cores and backing papers.
Non-acidic matboard is more expensive than standard, with museum board being the premium line. Acid-burn will decrease the value and appearance of an artwork. When framing an original artwork or limited edition print of value, use only museum quality matboard. For many applications, neutralized matboard will provide satisfactory results where museum quality preservation is not required. Ask your local art store about the several brands of quality matboard available.