A Review of the Properties of Fibers of the Seljuk and Timurid Papers and Using Instrumental Techniques for Identifying their Fibers

Workpieces (such as calligraphy or miniature), and manuscripts from the Seljuk and Timurids are the most exquisite paper works of book layout that have been noticed due to the transformations in the transition period of Iranian-Islamic book layout and the first handmade papers and diversity in papers. Although many researchers have described book layouts in the Islamic period and have spoken of diverse and high quality papers, there is no detailed information about the structure of these papers and it is not known how the papers are made. Also due to the structural similarities of the fibers used in the pulp of the historical papers, the most important factors of fibers identification must be must be evaluated in order that the differences and similarities between papers are more tangible. The main purpose of the research is to collect data on the way the fibers in historical papers from the Seljuk and Timurids are identified in order that the way the fibers from this period are identified is evaluated by meeting the standards.So, experimental methods (qualitative observations) and quantitative techniques are explained that can help in this regard. Historical studies showed that handmade papers from the Seljuk and Timurids are papers known as Samarghandi, Baghdadi and Khorasani and are mainly made of flax, kenaf and hemp. Fibers that are basic compounds of papers are generally obtained from annual plants such as fibers of dicotyledonous and monocot plants, and are known as non-woody plants. Compared to woody plants, these plants have lower lignin, higher ash, with similar cellulose but with more pentosan, and therefore, they are turned into paste more cheaply and comfortably. flax, hemp and kenaf are a part of crust group fibers (soft fibers), that have lower lignin in their fiber's wall, and are thus softer and more flexible. However, among soft fibers, hemp is less flexible than linen and cannabis, and it is difficult to distnguish linen and cannabis due to the structural similarities among their fibers. For instance, the physical properties of the surface of the plants including linen, hemp, jute, nettle and ramie are very similar. Also, the chemical compositions of crust fibers are very similar, except jute that has more lignin. On the other hand, the shape and size of the cross section of crust fibers cannot be distinguished. Today in addition to chemical reagents, there are many more techniques for identifying fiber of papers that are from the non-woody plants. the surface examination of fibers has become possible using SEM. In other words, flax fibers are directed towards S and hemp fibers are directed towards Z on their surface. Also using polarized light microscopy (PLM) that identifies the plants through their color changes on their surfaces, calcium oxalate in fibers was also confirmed. Calcium oxalate crystals are an important factor for identifying crust fibers. Also, instrumental analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray scattering are tools by which the internal and chemical structures of the historical papers can be identified.