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Degradation profiles of silk textiles in diverse environments: Synchrotron based infrared micro-spectroscopy analysis

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Abstract

In this paper, synchrotron based infrared micro-spectroscopy was utilized to describe the degradation profile of fibroin contained in silk textiles (Bombyx mori). The spatial distributions of deterioration effects in silk samples artificially aged at an assortment of conditions (thermal, hydrolytic and ultraviolet) were distinctly visualised and in accordance with the findings from conventional infrared spectroscopy in references. Further this method was applied on a historic sample from a private collection in Melbourne, and presented consistent results. This established synchrotron IR chemical mapping method could enable museum professionals to better understand the preservation state of historic silk and make informed decisions for conservation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Materials and Conservation Research in Archaeology, Key Scientific Research Base of Conservation & Restoration for Mural as Collection and Materials Science (State Administration for Cultural Heritage), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China

    Zhanyun Zhu

  2. Centre for Nano Energy Materials, State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China

    Zhanyun Zhu

  3. Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Zhanyun Zhu, Nicole Tse & Petronella Nel

  4. Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Australia

    Mark Tobin

Authors
  1. Zhanyun Zhu
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  2. Nicole Tse
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  3. Petronella Nel
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  4. Mark Tobin
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Correspondence to Zhanyun Zhu.

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Zhu, Z., Tse, N., Nel, P. et al. Degradation profiles of silk textiles in diverse environments: Synchrotron based infrared micro-spectroscopy analysis. MRS Advances 2, 3939–3949 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2017.596

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