Investigation of inks, pigments and paper in four Moroccan illuminated manuscripts dated to the eighteenth century

The heritage left by the Arab world in history of science is directly related to innovations both manufacturing paper and production ink. Four Moroccan manuscripts dating eighteenth century, conserved at royal library Rabat, have been analyzed X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy coupled energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Raman attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR-ATR). combination Raman, EDS, EDXRF spectroscopies results allows us Characterized inorganic inks, pigments fillers used making process. Iron-based ink was for writing text all manuscripts. main titles illuminated part are found be vermillion red ochre samples, azurite with barium white ultramarine blue color, lead chromate yellow copper arsenic based green carbon black color gold. identified calcite kaolin. FTIR-ATR analysis revealed presence characteristic bands cellulose, component paper. XRD confirms detected FTIR-ATR. Finally, SEM a better knowledge typical morphology highlighting some effects degradation