Multimodal HSI Combined with Multiblock Data Fusion: A New Tool for the Study of Time-Dependent Alteration Processes in Dyed Textiles

The present study describes an innovative approach for the study of time-dependent alteration processes. It combines an advanced hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system, to collect visible reflectance and fluorescence spectral data sets sequentially, with a tailored multiblock data processing method. This enables the modeling of chemical degradation maps and the early, spatially resolved detection of dye alteration in textiles. A chemometric method based on data fusion and principal component analysis was employed to identify spectral features of dye degradation, combining and enhancing information from reflectance and fluorescence HSI data. The most significant spectral profiles extracted were used to develop an asymmetric Gaussian-based pixel-by-pixel fitting model applied to the HSI fluorescence data set, enabling the reconstruction of degradation maps for rapid and intuitive visualization. In particular, changes in intensities and horizontal shift of dye emission peaks were pixel-by-pixel evaluated and fitted for the reconstruction of the degradation maps. Artificially aged wool samples tinted with indigo carmine (IC) dye served as a case study. IC is extensively used in textiles, and it is notable for its light sensitive. The results show that this approach effectively identifies spatial variations and chemical changes in dyed wool fibers, offering potential for sustainable conservation of historical textiles and other types of time-dependent processes. Thus, by amplifying variation in spectral profiles induced over time by aging, even minimal changes at early stages can be easily detected and localized, offering powerful tools for future studies on food and drug shelf life and stability, as well as forensic trace analysis.