Near-UV and visible pulsed laser interaction with paper

The applicability of excimer laser at 308 nm and Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm with fluences below 0.86 J/cm2 for cleaning of cellulose and paper materials was evaluated. The extent of degradation of purified cotton cellulose and Fabriano paper after laser treatment as well as after a period of accelerated humid oven ageing was determined by following the changes in the degree of polymerization. While irradiation of paper with the excimer laser at 308 nm results in depolymerization of cellulose accompanied by a decrease in ISO brightness, no detrimental effects of Nd:YAG laser treatments were observed.