Aging effects of relative humidity on palm leaf manuscripts and optimal humidity conditions for preservation
Source abstract
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: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Date Palm Research Studies · African Botany and Ecology Studies · Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (47)
Show source-provided references
1. Kumar, D. U., Sreekumar, G. & Athvankar, U. Traditional writing system in southern India—palm leaf manuscripts. Des. Thoughts 7, 2–7 (2009).
2. Panigrahi, A. K. & Litt, D. Odia script in palm-leaf manuscripts. J. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 23, 13–19 (2018).
3. Meher, R. Tradition of palm leaf manuscripts in Orissa. Orissa Review, 43–46 (January 2009).
4. Chu, S., Lin, L. & Tian, X. Evaluation of the deterioration state of historical palm leaf manuscripts from Burma. Forests 14, 1775 (2023).10.3390/f14091775 ↗
5. Sharma, D., Singh, M., Krist, G. & Velayudhan, N. M. Structural characterisation of 18th century Indian palm leaf manuscripts of India. Int. J. Conserv. Sci. 9, 257–264 (2018).
6. Sharma, D., Singh, M. R. & Dighe, B. Chromatographic study on traditional natural preservatives used for palm leaf manuscripts in India. Restaurator 39, 249–264 (2018).
7. Singh, M. R. & Sharma, D. Investigation of pigments on an Indian palm leaf manuscript (18th–19th century) by SEM-EDX and other techniques. Restaurator 41, 49–65 (2020).
8. Agrawal, O. P. Conservation of Manuscripts and Paintings of South-East Asia (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1984).
9. Sah, A. Palm leaf manuscripts of the world: material, technology and conservation. Stud. Conserv. 47, 15–24 (2002).10.1179/sic.2002.47.Supplement-1.15 ↗
10. Wiland, J. et al. A literature review of palm leaf manuscript conservation—Part 1: A historic overview, leaf preparation, materials and media, palm leaf manuscripts at the British Library and the common types of damage. J. Inst. Conserv. 45, 236–259 (2022).10.1080/19455224.2022.2115093 ↗
11. Zhang, M., Song, X., Wang, J. & Lyu, X. Preservation characteristics and restoration core technology of palm leaf manuscripts in Potala Palace. Arch. Sci. 22, 501–519 (2022).10.1007/s10502-021-09383-y ↗
12. Wiland, J. et al. A literature review of palm leaf manuscript conservation—Part 2: historic and current conservation treatments, boxing and storage, religious and ethical issues, recommendations for best practice. J. Inst. Conserv. 46, 64–91 (2023).10.1080/19455224.2023.2167095 ↗
13. Joshi, Y. (ed.) Modern techniques of preservation and conservation of palm leaf manuscripts. In Proc. Conference on Palm Leaf and Other Manuscripts in Indian Languages (Institute of Asian Studies, Madras, 1995).
14. Suryawanshi, D. G., Nair, M. V. & Sinha, P. M. Improving the flexibility of palm leaf. Restaurator 13, 37–46 (1992).
15. Yu, D. et al. The effect of traditional processing craft on the hygroscopicity of palm leaf manuscripts. Herit. Sci. 12, 280 (2024).10.1186/s40494-024-01402-2 ↗
16. Zhang, W., Wang, S. & Guo, H. Study on the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the hygroscopic properties of palm leaf manuscripts. Forests 15, 1816 (2024).10.3390/f15101816 ↗
17. Liu, X. Y., Timar, M. C., Varodi, A. M. & Sawyer, G. An investigation of accelerated temperature-induced ageing of four wood species: colour and FTIR. Wood Sci. Technol. 51, 357–378 (2017).10.1007/s00226-016-0867-4 ↗
18. Graminski, E. L., Parks, E. J. & Toth, E. E. The effects of temperature and moisture on the accelerated aging of paper. Restaurator 3, 175–199 (1979).
19. Méndez, C., Olmo, C., Renedo, C. J., Ortiz, A. & García, D. Kinetic assessment of Kraft and thermally upgraded Kraft papers aged in five alternative dielectric fluids. Polymers 16, 1196 (2024).10.3390/polym16091196 ↗
20. Botti, S., Di Lazzaro, P., Flora, F., Mezi, L. & Murra, D. Raman spectral mapping reveal molecular changes in cellulose aging induced by ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet radiation. Cellulose 31, 749–758 (2024).10.1007/s10570-023-05681-z ↗
21. Mitsui, K., Takada, H., Sugiyama, M. & Hasegawa, R. Changes in the properties of light-irradiated wood with heat treatment: Part 1. Effect of treatment conditions on the change in color. Holzforschung 55, 601–605 (2001).10.1515/HF.2001.098 ↗
22. Niu, K. & Song, K. Hot waxing treatment improves the aging resistance of wood surface under UV radiation and water. Prog. Org. Coat. 151, 106468 (2021).10.1016/j.porgcoat.2021.106468 ↗
23. Havermans, J. Effects of air pollutants on the accelerated ageing of cellulose-based materials. Restaurator 16, 209–233 (1995).
24. Bartl, B. et al. The effect of dust particles on cellulose degradation. Stud. Conserv. 61, 203–208 (2016).10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000158 ↗
25. Zhang, W., Wang, S. & Guo, H. Influence of relative humidity on the mechanical properties of palm leaf manuscripts: short-term effects and long-term aging. Molecules 29, 5644 (2024).10.3390/molecules29235644 ↗
26. Chu, S., Lin, L. & Tian, X. Analysis of Aspergillus niger isolated from ancient palm leaf manuscripts and its deterioration mechanisms. Herit. Sci. 12, 199 (2024).10.1186/s40494-024-01320-3 ↗
27. Zhang, W., Wang, S. & Guo, H. Study on the aging effects of relative humidity on the primary chemical components of palm leaf manuscripts. Polymers 17, 83 (2025).10.3390/polym17010083 ↗
28. Yi, X. et al. Study on the material properties and deterioration mechanism of palm leaves. Restaurator 31, 749–758 (2024).
29. Brémaud, I., Gril, J. & Thibaut, B. Anisotropy of wood vibrational properties: dependence on grain angle and review of literature data. Wood Sci. Technol. 45, 735–754 (2011).10.1007/s00226-010-0393-8 ↗
30. Katz, L. & Dvorak, G. J. On the anisotropic elastic properties of woods. J. Mater. Sci. 43, 2341–2353 (2008).10.1007/s10853-007-2121-9 ↗
31. Lomunov, A., Smirnov, V. & Lomunov, K. Investigation of wood anisotropy under dynamic loading. Int. J. Impact Eng. 112, 37–45 (2018).
32. Schwanninger, M., Rodrigues, J. C., Pereira, H. & Hinterstoisser, B. Effects of short-time vibratory ball milling on the shape of FT-IR spectra of wood and cellulose. Vib. Spectrosc. 36, 23–40 (2004).10.1016/j.vibspec.2004.02.003 ↗
33. Marchessault, R. H. Application of infra-red spectroscopy to cellulose and wood polysaccharides. Pure Appl. Chem. 5, 107–130 (1962).10.1351/pac196205010107 ↗
34. Pandey, K. K. & Pitman, A. J. FTIR studies of the changes in wood chemistry following decay by brown-rot and white-rot fungi. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 52, 151–160 (2003).10.1016/S0964-8305(03)00052-0 ↗
35. Wu, M. et al. A quasi-nondestructive evaluation method for physical-mechanical properties of fragile archaeological wood with TMA: a case study of an 800-year-old shipwreck. Forests 13, 38 (2022).10.3390/f13010038 ↗
36. Ramírez Barat, B. et al. Design and validation of tailored colour reference charts for monitoring cultural heritage degradation. Herit. Sci. 9, 41 (2021).10.1186/s40494-021-00511-6 ↗
37. Lorusso, S., Natali, A. & Matteucci, C. Colorimetry applied to the field of cultural heritage: examples of study cases. Conserv. Sci. Cult. Herit. 7, 13–27 (2007).
38. Ford, B. L. Monitoring colour change in textiles on display. Stud. Conserv. 37, 1–11 (1992).10.2307/1506432 ↗
39. Patera, A., Derluyn, H., Derome, D. & Carmeliet, J. Influence of sorption hysteresis on moisture transport in wood. Wood Sci. Technol. 50, 259–283 (2016).10.1007/s00226-015-0786-9 ↗
40. Jamali, A. et al. Sorption isotherms of Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves at three temperatures. J. Food Eng. 72, 77–84 (2006).10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2004.11.021 ↗
41. Thommes, M. et al. Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure Appl. Chem. 87, 1051–1069 (2015).10.1515/pac-2014-1117 ↗
42. Chen, Q. et al. The effect of graded fibrous structure of bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) on its water vapor sorption isotherms. Ind. Crops Prod.151, 112467 (2020).10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112467 ↗
43. Bergander, A. & Salmén, L. Cell wall properties and their effects on the mechanical properties of fibers. J. Mater. Sci. 37, 151–156 (2002).10.1023/A:1013115925679 ↗
44. Lv, C. & Liu, J. Alkaline degradation of plant fiber reinforcements in geopolymer: a review. Molecules 28, 1868 (2023).10.3390/molecules28041868 ↗
45. Ljungdahl, L. G. & Eriksson, K. E. Ecology of microbial cellulose degradation in Advances in Microbial Ecology, Vol. 8 (ed. Marshall, K. C.) (Springer, 1985).10.1007/978-1-4615-9412-3_6 ↗
46. Yu, J., Paterson, N., Blamey, J. & Millan, M. Cellulose, xylan and lignin interactions during pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Fuel 191, 140–149 (2017).10.1016/j.fuel.2016.11.057 ↗
47. Apaydın Varol, E. & Mutlu, Ü. TGA-FTIR analysis of biomass samples based on the thermal decomposition behavior of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Energies 16, 3674 (2023).10.3390/en16093674 ↗