Cellulose-Based Materials for The Consolidation of Archaeological Wooden Artifacts: Review Article

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 conservation department, faculty of archaeology, cairo university

2 Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University.

3 Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

There has been a continuous search for suitable polymers that could be used for the treatment of decayed archaeological wood, without causing further deterioration to the treated artifacts. Paraloid®, polyvinyl acetate, alum, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) or cellulose derivatives have been commonly used in the past, but the utilization of cellulose-based materials had been limited, due to their poor mechanical properties.  Remarkable attributes including mechanical properties enhancement, optical appearance that may be adjusted, and consistent performance have been demonstrated by cellulosic materials in recent times.
Cellulose derivatives, which are obtained by substituting some, or all, of the hydroxyl groups on the repeating unit in cellulose, based on the type of the desired property, are divided into two large categories, cellulose ethers and cellulose esters. These derivatives can be used as a matrix or filler in composites, and they are currently used in their nano size. The current interest in the nanocomposites is a result of the fact that the polymer matrix and nano filler interact with each other on molecular level, and can be used in the treatment of archaeological wood. In this article the general idea of cellulose-based materials and their nanocomposites is reviewed, aiming to focus on the possibility of expanding its use in the treatment and consolidation of decayed wooden artifacts.

Highlights

  • § Cellulose derivatives are highly compatible with wood and are commonly used to treat wooden artifacts.
  • § Cellulose nano filler possess outstanding properties compared with the original cellulosic fiber
  • § Cellulose nanocrystals are crystalline rod-like nanofibers obtained by acid hydrolysis.
  • § Cellulose nano fiber consists of pure cellulose from both crystalline and amorphous regions.
  • § Cellulose-based materials in composite systems present superior Mechanical properties.

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