The Conservation and Restoration of Paper Studied by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The invention of paper has undoubtedly been an important step for human civilization allowing large amount of scientific, musical, artistic, historical knowledge to be handed down over the centuries. However, paper as many other materials suffers from degradation over time. Investigations made in 2008 by J. Wouters on European libraries showed that on average 30% of paper objects are in poor condition of conservation while another 30% will reach these conditions at the end of this century. The degradation of paper is a complex phenomenon with different causes among which the more common ones include biological, physical and chemical processes. In addition, inadequate storage and careless handling can be a typical risk factor in accelerating further degradation processes. Consequently, the protection and preservation of paper-based artworks poses a serious problem for numerous libraries, archives, and museums. This is the reason why in recent years many studies have been focused on the monitoring of paper weathering by applying advanced analytical techniques and on the development of appropriate and long-term resistance treatments to protect these valuable documents.