Light and Anoxia Fading of Prussian Blue Dyed Textiles

Although Prussian blue is a popular pigment, its stability has been questioned since its discovery in 1704. Its stability upon exposure to light and anoxia remains difficult to apprehend. The present paper focuses on the relative influences of light, anoxia and type of substrate on the discoloration of Prussian blue dyed textiles. Spectrophotometry and X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements of samples artificially aged by light in air or anoxia show that both the extent of the reduction process at the origin of Prussian blue discoloration and the aging of the textile substrate are linked and strongly differ with the environment. The complex inter-relationship existing between Prussian blue discoloration and textile degradation and the final impact it may have on the conservation of the entire system is discussed.