Work

Evaluation of the reversibly cross-linked polymer-consolidated waterlogged archaeological woods from Zhangwan No.1 shipwreck

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Zhangwan No.1 Shipwreck, excavated in 2012, urgently requires the application of conservation materials to protect its waterlogged archaeological woods. In this work, reversibly cross-linked polymer (RCP) is employed as conservation materials to consolidate the waterlogged archaeological woods from Zhangwan No.1 Shipwreck and its corresponding consolidation effect is thoroughly evaluated. RCP-based conservation materials are constructed by penetrating 2-formylphenylboric acid modified polydimethylsiloxane (PPBA) into the waterlogged wood samples, and then in-situ reversibly cross-linking by N-coordinated boroxines (NCBs). In-situ formed reversibly cross-linked conservation materials (PNCB) can support the structure of the archaeological woods to improve their dimensional stability. The shrinkage rate of the PNCB-consolidated archaeological woods is ∼2.1% and its anti-shrinkage efficiency is ∼85.6%. Moreover, the PNCB-consolidated archaeological woods exhibit the excellent humidity stability and thermostability due to the stable cross-linking network of PNCB. Even under the environment with relative humidity of 100%, the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of the PNCB-consolidated archaeological woods is only ∼0.4%, significantly lower than that of un-consolidated and polyethylene glycol-consolidated archaeological woods. Because the NCB cross-linkers can be broken by ethanol, the PNCB conservation materials within the archaeological woods can be depolymerized into PPBA and eliminated from the archaeological woods after ethanol immersion.

Source: Journal of Cultural Heritage

DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.07.012