Scientific Investigation of Leather in Ethnographical Objects by Molecular Spectroscopy and MHT

Collagen-based materials in museum objects may suffer physical-chemical and structural changes under the influence of environmental factors. This alteration can be evaluated and quantified at different levels using several analytical techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-VIS-NIR, thermal analysis (TG, DSC), shrinkage stability measurement of collagen fibers (MHT technique), electronic microscopy (SEM, TEM). This paper presents the scientific investigation of leather in ethnographical objects belonging to Bucovina Museum by using molecular spectroscopy (FTIR and UV-Vis-NIR) and MHT technique.