New synthetic products for the consolidation of wet organic archaeological materials

Several hydroxylated products were synthesized starting from natural resources to obtain water soluble compounds with high affinity for polar materials like wood, paper and natural fibers. Cellulose derivatives, carbohydrates copolymers and hydroxylated oligoamides with different molecular weight and different hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio were obtained and studied as consolidants in the conservation of wet organic archaeological materials. Moreover, to reduce the risk of microbial attack, nanocomposites were studied and used for surface treatment in order to combine the advantages of inorganic nanomaterials (TiO2 anatase) in terms of antimicrobial activity and those of polymers obtained from renewable resources in terms of consolidation. Finally, specific diagnostic protocols were designed to investigate positive and negative features of these new products when used in preservation of different wet organic materials.