Use of hyperspectral imaging to monitor the effectiveness of plasma-generated atomic oxygen for non-contact cleaning of indigo dyed silk

Abstract

This study explores the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to monitor the effectiveness of plasma-generated atomic oxygen (AO) treatment for non-invasive cleaning of cultural heritage object. Silk samples dyed with indigo blue, including those soiled with soot to mimic historical artifacts, were treated with plasma-generated atomic oxygen for varying durations. Using HSI with a TWINS [1,2] birefringent interferometer, diffuse reflectance and light-induced fluorescence are observed. That allowed a precise evaluation of sample degradation avoiding any invasive sample extraction. This research not only contributes to the field of cultural heritage conservation but also enhances understanding of indigo colour degradation processes and the evaluation of non-invasive cleaning techniques on sensitive materials.