(13) C Solid State NMR complemented by ATR-FTIR and micro DSC to study modern collagen based material and historical leather.

Ancient vegetable tanned leathers and parchments are very complex materials in which both different manufacturing and deterioration processes make their study and chemical characterization difficult. In this research, solid state NMR spectroscopy was applied to identify different tannin families (condensed and hydrolyzable) in historical leather objects such as bookbindings, wall upholsters, footwear and accessories, and military apparel. Furthermore, leather deterioration with special focus on collagen gelatinization was investigated. A comparison with FTIR spectroscopy and micro DSC was also performed to support the (13) C CP-MAS NMR findings and to point out the advantages and limitations of solid-state NMR in analyzing historical and archeological leathers. A wide database of NMR and FTIR spectra of commercial tannins compounds was also collected in order to characterize historical and archaeological leathers.