Application of infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis to the examination of the degradation of cotton fibers

The potential of infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis when determining the degree of damage of historical textiles was investigated. Model samples of artificially aged cotton were used. The results obtained by the two instrumental methods were correlated with the mean degree of polymerization of cellulose and with their tensile strength. Neither of the two instrumental methods on its own was found suitable for the determination of the degree of damage of cellulose-based textile materials. They should be combined with other methods serving to determine the extent of damage of cellulose-based textile materials, e.g. via the degree of polymerization of cellulose.