Technical Investigation Of Ancient Chinese Paper Based Materials With Non-Destructive Chemical Methods

Paper was a great invention by the ancient Chinese people.More than two thousand-year history of papermaking has left us rich papers and paper-based materials of significant cultural and scientific values.Research on ancient Chinese papers and paper-based materials has long focused on interpreting historical records,in the hope of reconstructing ancient papermaking techniques.The general picture of ancient Chinese papermaking techniques was obtained in this manner.In the 1960 s,analytical techniques started to be applied(more often)in the studies of ancient Chinese papers and paper-based materials,which resulted in new understandings of raw materials and papermaking techniques.Methods emplyed included destructive or micro-destructive analytical approaches such as fiber staining,microscopic observation,and surface compositional analysis.This promoted temporary academic enthusiasm in ancient paper research.Since the 1980-1990 s,however,ancient Chinese paper research in China has become largely stagnant due to two most obvious reasons: lack of width and depth in research;lack of methdological innovation and creativity.The topics in this dissertation were brought forward in this background.This dissertation introduces a few non-destructive or micro-destructive analytical techniques(particularly the phytolith analysis,starch grain analysis,and Raman spectroscopy),which has received little or no attenttion in the studies of ancient Chinese papers and paper-based materials.With each(or a combination of several different)analytical approach(es),this dissertation aims to explore new possibilities for non-destructive identification of raw materials,fillers or coating pigments,sizing,and pigments and dyes used on ancient Chinese papers and paper-based materials.In this dissertation,a wide array of analytical methods—including the extraction and identification of phytoliths and starch grains,Raman spectroscopy,micro-X ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis,and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—was applied on documents in Tang and Song Dynasties,dyed papers in Western Xia Dynasty,paper currencies in Ming and Qing Dynasties,and painted portraits of unknown dates.The types of fibers and starch-based binding agents,fillers(or coating pigments),pigments and dyes were determined for these papers and paper-based materials.This dissertation demonstrats that Raman spectroscopy and starch grain analysis are more accurate and convenient than traditional analytical techniques in identifying and characterizing pigments and dyes,fillers/coating pigments,and starch-based binding agents,suggesting a great potential in ancient paper research.Further research(including more experiments on different fiber sources and papers)is needed to evaluate the potential of phytolith analysis in identifying fiber sources of ancient papers,even though phytoliths unique to rice have been successfully extracted and identified in both rice straw and papers.The dissertation concludes by a summary of gain and reflections,followed by cautions for difficulties and uncertaintites and thoughts and expectations for future research.