Thesis title: Quantification of femtosecond pulsed infrared laser cleaning on cellulose-based surfaces in cultural heritage conservation
The preservation of cultural heritage artifacts, particularly those made of cellulose-based materials, poses significant challenges due to their extreme sensitivity to contamination and physical degradation. This thesis investigates using femtosecond pulsed infrared lasers as a non-invasive, precise cleaning tool for such artifacts. The work is divided into three projects to quantify the laser cleaning process and evaluate its effectiveness across different materials.
The first project focuses on quantifying selective cleaning on paper surfaces, using ATR spectroscopy to measure residual contamination after laser treatment. By modeling this data, the project aims to provide a non-invasive method to evaluate laser cleaning efficiency on cellulose-based materials, establishing a ‘safe zone’ specific to paper artifacts.
In the second project, attention shifts to leather artifacts, where the effect of porosity on cleaning efficiency is examined, and laser parameters are calibrated to identify a ‘safe zone’ specifically for leather materials, ensuring a balance between effective cleaning and minimal damage. Additionally, the impact of the number of laser shots on the cleaning process is investigated to optimize the treatment.
The final project expands on the quantification models by integrating color measurement to evaluate cleaning success. The goal is to refine these models and improve the reliability of quantification methods for various materials used in cultural heritage conservation.
This research contributes to developing precise and non-invasive cleaning techniques for cultural heritage artifacts, offering new tools for conservators to assess and preserve these invaluable materials.