J. Kolar, M. Strlic, D. Müller-Hess, A. Gruber, K. Troschke S. Pentzien, W. Kautek
The effect of excimer laser treatment at 308 nm and moderate fluences below the ablation threshold on the degradation of Fabriano paper, CTMP fibres and purified cotton cellulose was evaluated. ISO brightness and cupri-ethylenediamine viscosity were determined to evaluate the extent of sample degradation after laser treatment as well as after a period of accelerated humid oven ageing. Treatments with the excimer laser at 308 nm result in depolymerization of cellulose accompanied by a decrease in ISO brightness. Application of other surface and bulk analytical techniques is discussed.