Analytical Techniques for Conservation of Historical Leather and Parchment

Historical leather and parchment artefacts are complex collagen-based materials that undergo a range of degradation processes, including hydrolysis, oxidation and mechanical embrittlement. Modern conservation relies on a suite of analytical methods to characterise their molecular composition, structural integrity and deterioration state. Vibrational spectroscopies such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman reveal changes in amide bands associated with protein secondary structure, enabling detection of denaturation, cross-linking and modifications induced by light, humidity or pollutants. Thermal methods—including micro hot table (MHT) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)—quantify collagen shrinkage and denaturation temperatures, providing rapid assays of thermal stability and degree of tanning. Microscopy techniques from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to atomic force microscopy (AFM) visualise fibre morphology and collagen fibril organisation. Chromatographic approaches and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) elucidate lipid and tannin profiles, while multivariate statistics such as principal component analysis (PCA) enhance discrimination of material sources and degradation markers. Together, these complementary tools inform minimally invasive sampling strategies, support selection of consolidation treatments and help to establish environmental guidelines for long-term preservation. The integration of molecular, thermal and imaging data has advanced understanding of leather and parchment conservation worldwide, guiding both interventive and preventive practice.

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Analytical Techniques for Conservation of Historical Leather and Parchment publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in analytical techniques for conservation of historical leather and parchment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy: A vibrational spectroscopy method that measures absorption bands of molecular bonds to assess collagen structure and tanning agents.

Principal component analysis (PCA): A statistical technique that reduces complex spectral data to key components for source classification or degradation mapping.

Micro hot table (MHT): A thermal analysis tool for determining collagen shrinkage temperatures and assessing denaturation behaviour in situ.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM): An imaging technique offering high-resolution views of collagen fibrils and surface morphology in leather and parchment.

Vacuum-aided extraction: A minimally invasive sampling procedure using controlled vacuum to extract lipids or small molecules without damaging the substrate.

Micro-destructive sampling: The removal of sub-milligram material for analysis, designed to minimise impact on artefact integrity.

References

1. Tannin characterization and sourcing in historical leathers through FTIR spectroscopy and PCA analysis. Collagen and Leather (2023).
2. Assessing the effect of minimally invasive lipid extraction on parchment integrity by artificial ageing and integrated analytical techniques. Polymer Degradation and Stability (2024).
3. Minimally Invasive Vacuum-Aided Extraction Technique for the Lipid Analysis of Historic Parchment. Analytical Chemistry (2024).
4. The Efficient Extraction Method of Collagen from Deteriorated Leather Artifacts. Polymers (2023).
5. Spectral Features Differentiate Aging-Induced Changes in Parchment—A Combined Approach of UV/VIS, µ-ATR/FTIR and µ-Raman Spectroscopy with Multivariate Data Analysis. Molecules (2023).
6. Model study of the leather degradation by oxidation and hydrolysis. Heritage Science (2019).
7. Micro differential scanning calorimetry and micro hot table method for quantifying deterioration of historical leather. Heritage Science (2019).
8. Burial-induced deterioration in leather: a FTIR-ATR, DSC, TG/DTG, MHT and SEM study. Heritage Science (2022).