Analysis of the Effects of Neutron Radiation on Cellulose Linen Fabrics Using Non-Destructive Testing

This work describes the effects of using neutron irradiation on cellulose and non-destructive methods to analyze linen fabrics of high heritage value. For this purpose, 8 samples were irradiated with increasing doses of neutrons and gamma rays up to 166 kGy of total dose. The samples were characterized by techniques such as ultraviolet luminescence, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. The luminescence of linen fabrics in the ultraviolet range increases markedly with dosage. Some chemical changes were also perceived by the ATR-FTIR spectra in the linen samples. Similarly, the fluorescence background observed in Raman spectroscopy intensifies with dosage. Due to the heterogeneity of the textile cellulose, NMR offers limited applicability for detecting neutron doses in cultural heritage fabrics. Radiation is applied for preservation against microorganisms in cultural heritage objects where the damage is to be assessed. This radiation can occasionally be found after earthquakes or in volcanic archaeological sites, which could question its dating using carbon 14. Despite some limitations encountered due to working with commonly used linen fabrics, the techniques employed in this study have made it possible to observe trends between the responses obtained and the irradiation dose for each linen sample.