Deionized water

I have been told by a supplier of high purity deionized water for the
electronic industry that he could dissolve a copper penny immersed in
DI water due to its strong affinity for ionizable material.  Although
his product was ultra pure, I feel that there is a consideration here in
conservation applications.  In industry, for example, protective
colloids are added to water in order to protect fibers during wet-
processing.  The aged materials in the conservator's care are even more
susceptible to damage.  How can we assess the aggressiveness (or
"activity") of deionized water and its effect on various substrates? Has
any specific research been done in this area?

    **** Moderator's comments:  For a discussion of this topic in
    connection with cellulosics see:

        Tang, Lucia C. & Norvell M.M. Jones, Norvell. "The Effects of
        Wash Water Quality on the Aging Characteristics of Paper,"
        Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Vol. 18, No.
        2, Spring 1979, pp. 61-81

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:20
               Distributed: Wednesday, September 21, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-20-007
                                  ***