Testing new graphene oxide‐coated glazing for papyrus manuscripts in museums: Part I

Abstract

The display of papyrus and paper (as cellulosic materials) in the Egyptian museums is always critical due to the traditional placement of display of sensitive materials between two plates of glass, acrylic, or other types of glazing materials. The sensitivity of the glazing materials to abrasion, ultraviolet rays, dust adhesion, and high light reflectivity are considered concerning issues to conservators, curators, and visitors. In this paper, thin protective coatings of graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized by modified Hummers' method and deposited on selected museums' glazing materials (glass and acrylic) using spin coating. Multi‐analytical techniques were employed to assess the applicability of GO‐coated glazing including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), microhardness testing, NIR VIS, and UV spectrophotometer and static potential measurements. The results showed that the glass glazing hardness was increased by ~10% due to the deposition of the GO coating. Moreover, according to glazing type, the reflectance values of the GO‐coated glazing samples, compared with the uncoated samples, confirmed that the thin film of GO improved the UV rays blocking. As is evident in the GO‐coated glass where approximately 27% of UV rays have been blocked, likewise, 19% of UV rays were blocked in GO‐coated acrylic (TRU VUE). Considering VIS and NIR reflection spectra of GO‐coated plexiglass, a higher reflectance is presented by 29%. Furthermore, the static potential measurements showed an energy decline in GO‐coated glazing compared with the uncoated samples.

Present Status and Perspectives of Graphene and Graphene‐related Materials in Cultural Heritage

“…[195,196] To exploit the potential of this property, GO has been applied to glazing materials (i.e., glass and acrylics) as a UV-shielding species. [197] This approach provides UV protection and an improvement in hardness and abrasion resistance.…”