Spectral damage model for lighting paper and silk in museum

Abstract Paper and silk are the artworks with the highest light sensitivity. They are very vulnerable to photochemical reactions caused by the radiation of light sources in museum lighting, resulting in irreversible permanent damage such as color fading and discoloration. The basis of lighting protection for these artworks is to clarify the influence of different light sources on paper and silk materials. In this study, 10 kinds of narrow band monochrome light in the visible light range were used as experimental light sources, real cultural relics paper and silk materials were used as experimental samples, and long-term irradiation experiments were carried out under constant temperature and humidity conditions. The color parameters of paper and silk irradiated by different light sources were detected periodically, and the curve of color difference with exposure was drawn. The relative influence coefficients of different spectral bands on the color of paper and silk were obtained by curve analysis. By fitting data regularity and regression analysis, the “relative damage-spectral composition” function was established. The effect of light source on color damage of paper and silk is described by mathematical language, and the influence formula of different spectrum on color damage of paper and silk is obtained.