Abstract
Paper is one of the most important materials in cultural heritage given its extensive use as the data carrier for religious, artistic and scientific records. For both aesthetic and conservation reasons, cleaning of these materials is often needed. Current paper cleaning methods using conventional means are not always sufficient, e.g. for the local cleaning of paper in the vicinity of sensitive media. In this respect a ns-pulse laser provides a valuable tool for solving difficult cleaning problems. The influence of various laser wavelengths (355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm) and the ageing status of modern paper test systems were studied. Colorimetric measurements, the determination of the average molecular mass of cellulose, and chemiluminescence analysis proved to be useful for the characterization of the laser-treated paper. Treatment with green laser light at λ=532 nm below the paper ablation threshold fluence gave the most promising results on pure papers, with no discolouration and no other visible alteration, nor detectable chemical changes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
W. Kautek, S. Pentzien, J. Krüger, E. König: Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks I, Restauratorenblätter (Special Issue), ed. by W. Kautek, E. König (Mayer & Comp., Wien, 1997) 69
W. Kautek, S. Pentzien, P. Rudolph, J. Krüger, E. König: Appl. Surf. Sci. 127–129, 746 (1998)
P. Rudolph, S. Pentzien, J. Krüger, W. Kautek, E. König: Restauro 104, 396 (1998)
J. Kolar, M. Strlic, S. Pentzien, W. Kautek: Appl. Phys. A 71, 87 (2000)
J. Kolar, M. Strlic, D. Müller-Hess, A. Gruber, K. Troschke, S. Pentzien, W. Kautek: J. Cultural Heritage 1, 221 (2000)
W. Kautek, S. Pentzien, D. Müller-Hess, K. Troschke, R. Teule: SPIE 4402, 130 (2001)
H.A. Aziz, J.B.G.A. Havermans, P. Rudolph, V. Quillet, M. Kraan, B. van Beek, H.-Y. Hua-Ströfer, F.J. Ligterink, J.L. Pedersoli Jr., H. Scholten, D. Schipper, W. Kautek: The effects of laser cleaning on mechanical properties of inked papers – in preparation
J.B.G.A. Havermans, C. Petterson, H.A. Aziz, P. Rudolph, F.J. Ligterink, J.L. Pedersoli Jr., D. Schipper, W. Kautek, J.-E. Svensson, O. Lindqvist: The effects of laser cleaning of paper on their behavior towards air pollutants – in preparation
X. Zou, T. Uesaka., N. Gurnagul: Cellulose 3, 243 (1996)
R. Stol, J.L. Pedersoli Jr., H. Poppe, W.T. Kok: Anal. Chem. 74, 2314 (2002)
X. Zou, N. Gurnagul, T. Uesaka, J. Bouchard: Polymer Degradation and Stability 43, 393 (1994)
D. Klemm, B. Philipp, T. Heinze, U. Heinze: Comprehensive Cellulose Chemistry Vol 1. – Fundamentals and Analytical Methods, ed. by Wagenknecht (Wiley-VHC, Weinheim 1998) 107.
S.C. Churms: Journal of Chromatography A 720, 151 (1996)
A.-L. Dupont: Ph.D. Thesis, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003
L. Matisová-Rychlá, J. Rychlý: Estimation of life-time and design of long-life polymers, ed. by I. Narisawa, Z. Ozawa (NTS Inc., Tokyo 2002) 272.
G.A. Russel: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79, 3871 (1957)
M. Strliè, J. Kolar, B. Pihlar, J. Rychlý, L. Matisová-Rychlá: Eur. Polym. J. 36, 2351 (2000)
G.O. Phillips: Cellulose Chemistry and its applications, ed. by T.P. Nevell, S.H. Zeronian (Ellis Horwood, Chichester 1987) 290
J.B.G.A. Havermans, J.P. van Deventer, R. van Dongen, F. Flieder, F. Daniel, P. Kolseth, T. Iversen, H. Lennholm, O. Lindqvist, A.S. Johansson: The Effects of Air Pollutants on the Accelerated Ageing of Cellulose Containing Materials - Paper. EC/DGXII/STEP Project CT 90-0100, TNO-report, Delft, The Netherlands 1994
L. Valtasaari, K. Saarela: Papper och Trä 1, 5 (1975)
J. Daòhelka, I. Kössler: J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. Ed. 14, 287 (1976)
R. Evans, R.H. Wearne, A.F.A. Wallis: J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 37, 3291 (1989)
J.L. Pedersoli Jr., M. van Bommel, J. Bos, F.J. Ligterink: Application of size exclusion chromatography to the microanalytical characterisation of celluloses from (paper) objects of cultural and historical value – in preparation
J.D. Cosgrove, B.C. Head, T.J. Lewis, S.G. Graham, J.O. Warwicker: Cellulose and Its Derivatives. Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applications, ed. by J.F. Kennedy, G.O. Phillips, D.J. Wedlock, P.A. Williams (Ellis Horwood, Chichester 1985) 143
W. Schwald, O. Bobleter: J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 35, 1937 (1988)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
PACS
06.60.J; 78.60.Ps; 81.65.Cf
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rudolph, P., Ligterink, F., Pedersoli Jr., J. et al. Characterization of laser-treated paper. Appl. Phys. A 79, 181–186 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-2650-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-2650-x