Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage (Dec 2014)

Characterization of writing materials of books of great historical-artistic value by FT-IR and micro-raman spectroscopy

  • Vito Librando,
  • Zelica Minniti

DOI
https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1973-9494/4740
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 39 – 50

Abstract

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This work describes the application of Fourier-Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of cellulose paper samples and inks used on ancient writing materials. These samples from books of high historical and artistic interest were provided by the Public Library of Syracuse.The ancient paper showed a characteristic pattern of carbonyl groups, whose vibration modes were observed in FTIR spectra. The spectra of ancient paper samples were compared to each other and to modern paper in order to highlight differences in conservation state between new and old papers. The paper aging process is related to the presence of acid substances and oxidative agents that result in cellulose hydrolysis leading to the shortening of its chain along with changes in the amount of the crystalline form. This hydrolysis causes changes in hydrogen bonds and consequently change the CCH, COH, OCH and HCH bending vibrations mode. In this work, the FTIR and Raman spectra of inks used on ancient paper and parchment samples were also discussed.

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