Removing foxing stains from old paper at 157nm

Alkiviadis Constantinos Cefalas; Evangelia Sarantopoulou; Z. Kollia; Panagiotis Argitis

doi:10.1117/12.445656

22 October 2001 Removing foxing stains from old paper at 157nm

Alkiviadis Constantinos Cefalas, Evangelia Sarantopoulou, Z. Kollia, Panagiotis Argitis

Proceedings Volume 4402, Laser Techniques and Systems in Art Conservation; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.445656
Event: Lasers in Metrology and Art Conservation, 2001, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Using a molecular fluorine laser at 157 nm foxing stains were removed successfully from a 16th century old paper. Laser cleaning of stains and foxing from old paper manuscripts is far more effective at 157 nm in comparison to different wavelengths without any yellowish after-effect on the paper. This is because at 157 nm illumination of old paper, compete bond breaking of all the organic molecules of the paper is taking place. Mass spectroscopy at 157 nm and for moderate laser intensities up to 1 mJ/cm² of old paper suffering from foxing and including remains of sticky- tape and stains, indicate organic matter disintegration to small photo fragments atomic, diatomic or triatomic, which are flying apart with supersonic speed. This is because the dissociate excited states of the small organic radicals, occupy the energy region above 6.5 eV.

Citation Download Citation

Alkiviadis Constantinos Cefalas, Evangelia Sarantopoulou, Z. Kollia, and Panagiotis Argitis "Removing foxing stains from old paper at 157nm", Proc. SPIE 4402, Laser Techniques and Systems in Art Conservation, (22 October 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.445656

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