Applications of Raman spectroscopy to library heritage

This work reports some different applications of Raman spectroscopy, a high sensitive non-destructive technique, to the conservation of Library Heritage. By Raman spectroscopy we were able to detect the chemical mechanisms leading to cellulose degradation, identifying the different functional groups formed during the paper ageing. This kind of information is fundamental to choose a suited restoration treatment. A second reported application is the identification of pigments used to decorate paper and parchments. We report some results obtained from analysis of a XV and a XIII century illuminations.