Riccardi, A.; Mercuri, F.; Paoloni, S.; Zammit, U.; Marinelli, M.; Scudieri, F.; ”Parchment ageing study: new methods based on thermal transport and shrinkage analysis”, e-Preservation Science 7 (2010) 87-95
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Abstract:
The structure of the parchment and its preservation state have been studied by means of novel methods based on the analysis of the heat diffusion and shrinkage activity. Investigations have been performed on modern, inked and non-inked, parchment artificially aged in different conditions, as well as on modern non-aged and historical parchment samples. By means of the infrared thermography, the thermal diffusivity D has been measured along different directions, perpendicular and parallel to the parchment leaf plane respectively, in order to characterize its anisotropy and the way it depends on ageing. Thermographic investigations have also enabled the analysis of extended micro damages induced in the parchment layered structure by the combined effect of ink and ageing. Finally, quantitative information on the degradation induced by artificially ageing have been obtained by the analysis of the hydrothermal shrinkage activity of the parchment fibres by means of a new method based on light transmission measurements.