Characterization of archival materials with different compositions and Whatman paper treated by ionizing radiations (ENEA, Italy)

Abstract This study presents a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the impact of ionizing radiation on Cultural Heritage materials and the suitability of selected analytical techniques for monitoring possible alterations. Historical paper and parchment were subjected to gamma irradiation at 8 kGy, resulting in minimal structural, chemical and visual changes, as confirmed by Raman and FTIR analyses, with the highest color variation (ΔE₀₀) of 1.62, close to the perceptibility threshold. These findings confirm the compatibility of radiation processing with the preservation of physico-chemical properties and demonstrate the diagnostic value of complementary analyses. The work highlights the potential of radiation-based approaches as safe and non-invasive tools for heritage conservation, including the preservation of inks, and presents preliminary results on the effects of electron-beam irradiation on new paper.