Microscopic examination of the texture of paper products

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to study the state of the paper fibers with the aim of providing qualitative and semi-quantitative information on degradation and aging. The work [1] reports the results of tests of various paper products subjected to deliberate aging processes under the influence of various factors. Chemical and biological degradation processes were modeled by aging in a climatic chamber (80 ° C, 65% RH) and the effects of Aspergillus terreus attack, providing analysis and classification of common degradation phenomena related to paper products. The above issue is closely related to the subject of literary monument conservation and is the subject of joint efforts of scientists and librarians [2]. The presented set is an attempt to check whether the AFM device, at the author's disposal, enables the observation of the surface structure of printing products. Two types of paper were imaged: Multicopy, A4 - white, 80 g, and A4 280G SATIN IP SATIN. Measurements were made in the semi-contact mode, probe NSG 30, 22 images, 1-12 chalk paper, 13-22 printer paper.
Reference:
[1] P. Giovanna, B. Marina, P. Flavia, C. Carlo, Atomic Force Microscopy imaging directly on paper: A study of library materials degradation, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 5857 (2005) 1-10.
[2] https://bj.uj.edu.pl/uslugi-specjalne/klinika-papieru/degradacja-i-konserwacja-papieru