ABSTRACT
A mixture of sturgeon glue with wheat starch paste (20 per cent sturgeon glue + 10 per cent wheat starch paste 1:1) is the preferred adhesive for thread-by-thread tear repair. The low gelling point of sturgeon glue, the bulking characteristic of wheat starch paste, their re-solubility in warm water, and their good adhesive qualities make them ideal adhesives for tear mending. Tears repaired with this mixture that have re-opened after many years can be readily re-adhered with the same materials and provide the same mechanical properties. Mistakes are easily corrected since repairs can be re-opened and re-adhered at any time. Aqueous adhesives such as glue/starch systems, because of their water content, can render the ends of brittle and frayed fibres more flexible and easier to elongate and align. The good flow of the adhesive mixture assures that all fibres are enveloped while the paste fills the interstices of the individual fibres of the threads, resulting in elevated tensile strength of the mends. Due to the workability of this adhesive mixture, the thread-by-thread method can be executed with utmost control both quickly and uninterruptedly. The adhesive mixture should ideally be made fresh daily. Transferred from an air-tight syringe to the work container kept at 40 °C, a batch can be used for up to two days.
