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Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles for the conservation of cultural heritage: new formulations for the deacidification of cellulose-based artifacts

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Abstract

Alkaline earth metal hydroxide nanoparticles dispersions have demonstrated to be efficient for the preservation of cellulose-based artifacts, providing a stable neutral environment and, if in excess, turning into mild alkaline species. New formulations tailored for specific conservation issues have been recently obtained via a solvothermal reaction, starting from bulk metal, and short chain alcohols. Using this synthetic procedure, stable, and high concentrated calcium hydroxide nanoparticles dispersions can be obtained. The characterization of nanoparticles was carried out by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction and showed that the dispersed systems are particularly suitable for the application on porous substrates. In a direct application of this technology, acidic paper and canvas samples were artificially aged after deacidification using calcium hydroxide nanoparticles dispersed in short chain alcohols. Cellulose viscosimetric polymerization degree (DPv), cellulose pyrolysis temperature, and samples’ pH were evaluated upon the aging and in terms of protective action arising from the applied treatment. In particular, determinations of DPv clearly showed that the degradation of acidic paper and canvas samples proceeds at higher rates with respect to deacidified samples. These evidences were also confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis of samples, in which the benefits due to the deacidification treatments are measured in terms of pyrolysis temperature of cellulose. These new formulations of nanoparticles dispersions expand the palette of available tools for the conservation of cellulose-based works of art, such as easel paintings, and manuscripts, potentially opening the way for the intervention on parchment and leather, whose preservation is a particularly challenging task.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Rachel Camerini and Laura Gozzini for their collaboration during the experimental tests on paper and canvas. This work was partly supported by CSGI, the Ministry for Education and Research (MIUR, PRIN-2009-P2WEAT), and the European Union, Project NANOFORART (FP7-ENV-NMP-2011/282816).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    G. Poggi, N. Toccafondi, R. Giorgi & P. Baglioni

  2. Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK

    L. N. Melita, J. C. Knowles & L. Bozec

  3. WCU Research Centre of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University, San#29, Anseo-dong, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, 330-714, South Korea

    J. C. Knowles

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  1. G. Poggi
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  2. N. Toccafondi
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  3. L. N. Melita
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Correspondence to G. Poggi.

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Poggi, G., Toccafondi, N., Melita, L.N. et al. Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles for the conservation of cultural heritage: new formulations for the deacidification of cellulose-based artifacts. Appl. Phys. A 114, 685–693 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-8172-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-8172-7

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