Detachment of silk or paper support results from separation or de-lamination of the backing layers. When the layers are especially thick, the inside layer and outside layer have differences in the curve when rolled which causes the separation and de-lamination of the support layer. This also causes creasing. Wheat starch is a stable material, but it does deteriorate and loses its adhesive power. Many conservators now use pure starch paste, but some mounters in Asia still practice with starch paste with gluten or even alum in it.
Moisture swells the hardened paste, and temporarily loosens the adhesive power.
Moisture also causes separation when the scroll receives mechanical action such as rolling and unrolling. Moisture causes the front support layer and reverse backing layer to suffer from the disproportion in expansion and shrinking. Often mounters rub the reverse of a scroll with rosary beads to make the mounting more flexible. However, the procedure may also cause the layers to separate if done to excess. Blisters or separation of the layers also happen for the same reason.