Restoration and conservation of heritage written on cellulosic support (paper, papyrus, and wood). Characteristic study

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 72; pp. 3696 - 3704
• Main Authors: Es-sabbeur, S., Kamal, O., Louafy, R., Cherif, A., Elkoraichi, I., Lebrun, L., Hlaibi, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2023
• Subjects: Cellulosic polymers; Conservation; Deacidification; Reinforcement; Restoration; Written heritage; Reinforcement; Cellulosic polymers; Written heritage; Deacidification; Restoration; Conservation
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.09.121

Librarians and conservators have a hard time restoring and preserving written history and archives. The written heritage is subject to many factors of degradation, affecting its state of conservation, especially cellulosic manuscripts. This research proposes a new technique to improve the processes already used to restore written heritage, and develop a new and straightforward method for preserving and protecting, and protecting precious objects Although current methods are precise but are expensive and require several steps Therefore, it is important to develop new method which is simple, direct, and inexpensive, and effective for restoring, and preserving the heritage in clean condition on a cellulosic backing. This technique allows for the deposit of cellulosic polymers with a trace of a deacidifier, Ca(OH)2, in the matrices of the supports of the samples to be repaired. The cellulosic polymer is fixed by the handwritten support to strengthen and enrich it, and the Ca(OH)2 is inserted inside the cellulosic material to deacidify it. This study focused on old cellulosic materials like paper, papyrus, and wood. A three-step analytical methodology based on infrared spectroscopy, Young's modulus, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry analysis were developed before and after treatment by this new restoration method to determine the effect of the consolidation treatment on the structure of cellulosic material. The results obtained indicate that the physicochemical and morphological properties of the treated samples have been well perfected, as the acidity studies show promising results. Also, antifungal research is mandatory for this new restoration technique to know the antifungal and antibacterial effects on the old contaminated cellulosic materials. In this case, this new restoration technique has proven to be very useful and adequate for the treatment without deterioration of the writings and the contents of the written heritage.