H

 

Head

The top of a book as it sits upright

Hot melt adhesive

An adhesive that is liquid when hot but solid at room temperature. Hot melt adhesives were extensively used in paperback bindings. They are generally inflexible and can become brittle and yellow as they age. Pages become easily detached when this happens.

Humidity

The moisture in the air. See also relative humidity

Hydrolysis

A chemical action involving water - decomposition in which a compound is split into other compounds by taking up water.

Hygrometer

See psychrometer

Hygrothermograph

See thermohygrograph