Hydroxide Nanoparticles for Deacidification and Concomitant Inhibition of Iron-Gall Ink Corrosion of Paper

Abstract

This Article reports an investigation on the use of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles dispersed in alcohols to inhibit two different and synergistic degradation processes usually affecting historically valuable manuscripts and, more generally, paper documents. We show that the preservation of paper from acid hydrolysis and oxidative ink corrosion can be achieved by stabilizing the final pH of deacidified paper around 6.5 to 7.5. Reactive magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, obtained by using a novel synthetic procedure, are very efficient in controlling paper's pH to avoid further degradation of cellulose from acid hydrolysis, oxidative ink corrosion, or both. The deacidification and antioxidant actions of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles are compared with magnesium oxide particles present in one of the best mass deacidification methods (Bookkeeper).

Highly transparent poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-TiO2nanocomposite coatings for the conservation of matte painted artworks

“…Nanotechnology has been used with promising results for the conservation of cultural heritage. As an example the consolidation of wall painting and the de-acidification of the paper with calcium and magnesium hydroxides nanoparticles have been reported [4][5][6][7][8] . Recently, also titanium dioxide nanoparticles played an important role in the cleaning of stones, as self-cleaning coating for its well-known photocatalytic [9][10][11][12][13] and anti-bacterial activity 14 .…”

A stabilizer-free non-polar dispersion for the deacidification of contemporary art on paper

“…Since then, research efforts have been devoted to the refinement of synthetic procedures, with the aim of tailoring physico-chemical particles characteristics to different case studies, including paper [13,16,17], iron gall inked manuscripts [18,19] and archeological wood [21,22]. The efficacy of these systems in hampering cellulose degradation has been assessed in several studies [37][38][39][40].…”

“…About fifteen years ago, the use of dispersions of alkaline nanoparticles, mainly calcium and magnesium hydroxide in short-chain alcohols, was proposed as an efficient way for the deacidification and pH control of several cellulose-based works of art [13][14][15]. Since then, several systems have been formulated and applied to paper [16,17], iron gall inked manuscripts [18][19][20] and archeological wood [21][22][23]. Nanoparticles high reactivity grants a fast neutralization of acidity, providing a neutral environment due to the conversion of hydroxides into carbonates, which are milder alkaline species.…”

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE CULTURAL HERITAGE - INFLUENCE OF NANOSPENSIONS ADOPTED BY NANOPARTICLES OF TiO2 FOR CLEANING THE SURFACE OF HISTORICAL PLASTERS

“…The use of nanomaterials is proven in practice in the deacidification of movable artworks (paper, textiles, leather [4][5][6][7]), cleaning of surfaces of historical monuments (eg. titanium hydroxide…”