Work

Aging effects of relative humidity on palm leaf manuscripts and optimal humidity conditions for preservation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Palm Leaf Manuscripts are valuable cultural assets, and understanding the impact of environmental factors on their properties is essential for effective conservation. This study simulated aging to assess the effects of relative humidity (RH) on the manuscripts using various techniques, including SEM, DVS, TMA, FT-IR, and XRD. The results show that exposure to extreme dry or humid conditions negatively affects the manuscripts. In dry conditions, they experience bending, cracking, reduced mechanical strength, lower hygroscopicity, and chemical degradation. In humid conditions, fungal growth compromises the manuscripts’ structure. These changes affect color, gloss, hygroscopic behavior, cellulose crystallinity, and thermal stability, weakening mechanical properties. Manuscripts stored at 50% RH showed no significant damage, suggesting that this level is optimal for their preservation. This study provides insights into the degradation mechanisms of Palm Leaf Manuscripts under different humidity conditions and offers recommendations for their preservation.

Source: npj Heritage Science

DOI: 10.1038/s40494-025-01794-9

Authors: Wenjie Zhang, Shan Wang, Liuyang Han, Hong Guo

Institutions: University of Science and Technology Beijing, Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage

Language: English

Topic: Conservation Techniques and Studies

Subfield: Conservation

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Key Research and Development Program of China

Award: G4296773951