Characterisation and restoration of a severely damaged paper archive from the Qing Dynasty.

Abstract

In this study, a severely damaged official document produced in the Qing Dynasty (1911 A.D.), was characterized using a range of techniques and subsequently restored using the traditional Chinese conservation methods. The pH and crystalline index of the paper were measured using a pH meter, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The results indicate that the paper archive is acidic and degraded, which is also supported by the broken fibres as observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the properties and durability of the conservation materials, including the conservation paper made of Wikstroemia fibre and wheat starch paste, were explored by determination of colour difference, whiteness, pH, tensile strength, and observation of cross-sectional features before and after dry- and moist-heat degradation. The results demonstrate the conservation materials presented good durability and were then used to perform subsequent conservation treatments, including the assembly of paper pieces and the application of backing paper, to provide additional mechanical support for the preservation of the historical paper archive.