Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Applied to the Analysis of Ancient Manuscripts
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English Slovak |
| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
| Online Access: | http://www.viks.sk/chk/res_4_98_173_186.doc |
| Abstract: | Summaries. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been applied to the characterization of manuscript degradation. Samples were small pieces or individual fibres from paper manuscripts that dated from 1360 to the end of the eighteenth century. The pH at the surface ranged from 4 to 7.fi due to irongall ink corrosion or biological degradation. Several IR techniques were tested in order to choose the best, considering the condition of the sample and the need to minimize the damage: KBr pellets, diamond cell using the microscope in transmission mode and diamond cell using the beam condenser, microscope using the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) objective and diffuse reflexion (DRIFT) were compared. Variations of O-H and C-O absorptions show the degree of cellulose oxidation. More degraded samples show more intense C-O bands and weaker O-H bands. Using this method it is also possible to measure carbonate bands, which are stronger when paper is in a good condition and not degraded. Manuscript degradation depends on the acidity of irongall inks and alkaline buffering of the paper. A decrease in alkaline buffering in degraded samples analyzed by SEM-EDX corroborates the measurements of carbonates obtained by infrared analysis. Conclusions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy allows rapid analysis of samples of paper without previous treatment. Even if only a small amount of sample is available, which happens in samples from museums and archives, the infrared technique allows us to use a beamcon-denser or a microscope. When samples can not be altered at all, the ATR objective of the microscope allows to measure on the surface of paper without removing any fibre. Only in samples where fibres are not degraded, the last methodology shows some limitations in the quality of spectra. Cellulose oxidation and dehydration can be tested in acidic samples from manuscripts degraded by microbiological agents or by corrosive irongall ink. Characteristic C-O band increases in acidic samples and hydration capacity of cellulose decreases. Both results certify degradation in cellulose. Non acidic papers have large amounts of calcium carbonate, which was tested by FTIR and SEM-EDX. It has been observed that in acidic papers from later centuries, there is a change from calcium carbonate to calcium sulphate caused by ink. FTIR combined with other analytical techniques such as SEM-EDX can be very useful to analyze and evaluate degradation in manuscripts. |
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| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
