Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
05:40
Method Development for Contactless Resonant Cavity Dielectric Spectroscopic Studies of Cellulosic Paper
Published on: October 4, 2019
5.4K
Raman microspectroscopy of old paper samples with foxing
Irina A Balakhnina1, Nikolay N Brandt, Andrey Yu Chikishev
1Lomonosov Moscow State University, Physics Department and International Laser Center, Moscow, 119991 Russia.
Applied Spectroscopy
|April 4, 2014
Summary
Raman microspectroscopy effectively identifies spectral changes in aging paper and foxing. This technique aids in distinguishing paper degradation and informs the restoration of historical documents and artworks.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Historical documents and artwork on paper are susceptible to degradation, notably foxing stains.
- Accurate identification of degraded areas is crucial for effective restoration strategies.
- While Raman spectroscopy is used for paper analysis, its application to foxing is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze foxing in historical paper using Raman microspectroscopy.
- To identify spectral signatures associated with paper aging and foxing formation.
- To compare degradation levels across different paper types and centuries.
Main Methods:
- Raman microspectroscopy was employed to analyze various historical paper samples.
- Spectral data from foxed and unfoxed fragments were compared.
- Analysis included papers from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Main Results:
- Raman microspectroscopy successfully identified spectral changes linked to paper aging and foxing.
- Rag papers showed less degradation than wood-cellulose papers.
- Distinct spectral differences were observed between papers from different centuries, revealing lignin and gypsum in 20th-century paper.
- Foxed areas exhibited significantly higher degradation compared to unfoxed areas.
Conclusions:
- Raman microspectroscopy is a valuable tool for characterizing paper degradation and foxing.
- The findings provide insights into the aging process of paper materials.
- This research supports the restoration of paper-based cultural heritage by enabling precise identification of foxed fragments.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Raman Spectroscopy: Overview
2.6K
The underlying principle of Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction between light and matter, specifically molecules' inelastic scattering of photons. When a monochromatic beam of light, typically from a laser source, interacts with a sample, most scattered light has the same frequency as the incident light. This is known as Rayleigh scattering.
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and...
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and...
2.6K
01:26Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview
1.8K
A conventional Raman spectrophotometer includes a laser source, a sample holding system, a wavelength selector, and a detector.
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...
1.8K