Hydroxylated-oligoamides‐TiO2 nanocomposites in wood conservation

In the last years, with the aim to obtain water soluble compounds with a high affinity with polar materials, several hydroxylated oligoamides have been synthesized. For this purpose, natural compounds or their derivatives have been used as starting compounds. In particular products with different molecular weight and different hydrophilic/hydrofobic ratio have been obtained with polycondensation reactions using several diamines and diacids as tartaric acid, D(+)-glucaric acid and α,α-trehaluronic acid. Hydroxylated oligoamides have been studied for their use as consolidants in the waterlogged wood conservation. In order to reduce the microorganisms attack, when the new consolidants are used in the surface treatment of wood, the presence of the TiO2 anatase can be useful. The bactericide properties of the anatase form are in fact important for wood conservation but also for textile applications and in the use of the oligoamides as additives in the polymeric formulation. With the aim to obtain homogeneous dispersions of TiO2 anatase in the consolidant formulations, the hydroxylated oligoamides have been synthesized on TiO2 functionalized nanoparticles. Homogeneous dispersions, without the presence of aggregates, are in fact necessary in order to obtain high-performance polymer-based nanocomposites. Generally an appropriate functionalization of nanomaterial can be used for a better inclusion of the nanoparticles in the polymeric films. The nanoparticles have been functionalized with two different coupling agents. Subsequently, the polycondensation reactions between functionalized nanoparticles, dimethyl esters and ethylenediamine have been carried out allowing the growth of the polymer in controlled steps. Samples of waterlogged archeological wood have been treated with oligoamides as consolidant and then with nanocomposites on the surface in order to reduce the fungal attack. The bactericide properties have been studied.