Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Analysis of Historic Paper Documents as a Preliminary Step for Chemometrical Analysis

The evolution of papermaking from XII century, in Europe, was characterized by continuous changes of fibrous and non-fibrous materials as cellulose, wood pulp, sizing agents, fillers and coatings. In this study, the composition of many ancient paper documents is analysed by means of non-destructive Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to identify the main components of paper and to evaluate the presence of other compounds. The substances that cannot be detected by FTIR analysis are also underlined. The goal of this work is to set up an FTIR database for diagnostic purposes and to identify optimal spectral ranges useful for chemometric analyses.