The phrase "bend over older mature" in the context of paper likely refers to the , a field of study focused on the brittleness and structural integrity of historical documents. Key Concepts in Paper Aging and Bending
: As paper matures, it undergoes chemical and physical changes—such as the breakdown of cellulose chains—that make it brittle.
: If mature paper is stressed past its elastic limit or held in a bent position for a long time, the fibers shift permanently, causing the paper to stay bent even when the stress is removed.
: Researchers use nondestructive tests, like the cantilever test , to measure how much a strip of "mature" or aged paper can bend before it reaches its elastic limit.
