Multi-spectroscopy applied to study blue gel pen inks

Abstract

Multi-spectroscopy, such as FTIR, dispersive Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis, was applied to characterize the blue gel pen inks on paper at the time in the present study. Twenty eight collected blue gel pens with different brands and serials were separated into four different classes by different absorptions or Raman shift. Composition changing of blue gel pen inks on paper during artificial ageing was studied via TD-MS as well. The advantage and disadvantage of this spectroscopy used in analyzing and identifying blue gel pen inks on paper, and the potential application in the research on relative and absolute ageing of documents were discussed.