Scanning Electron Microscopic Characterization of Iron-Gall Inks from Different Tannin Sources – Applications for Cultural Heritage
Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the reactivity of iron-gall inks with varying iron concentrations. Vegetable extracts with hydrolysable tannins produced stable ink, while the presence of crystal aggregates explained the low reactivity of condensed tannins. This novel archaeometric approach has proved useful in chemical corrosion studies of ancient documents.