Application of FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy to Qualitative Analysis of Structural Changes in Cellulosic Fibres

Fibres belong to orcanic materials and are therefore susceptible to external influences, causing structural changes in materials. The consequences of structural changes in fibres are the changes in their properties. Natural cellulosic fibres, which were in the Past often used for clothing, decorative and applied arts, are very susceptible to external influences. The fibre structure can be analysed with vibrational spectroscopic methods. Infrared and Raman speotroscopies are complementary methods, allowing us to analyse the fibre Supramolecular structure (crystallinity and different polymorph structures of cellulose). In the present work, both methods were applied for the analysis of aged cellulose textiles degraded by fungi. The selected methods turned out to be appropriate for the analysis of supramolecular structural changes in the biodegraded textiles, e.g. depolymerisation of cellulose macromolecules and changes in the arrangement of macromolecules. A prolonged time of active contamination with fungi led to more intensive supramolecular structural chances.