Design and synthesis of new consolidants for their use in wood conservation

In the past, several compounds and methods have been studied and used for the treatment of waterlogged wood. PEG (polyethylene glycol), at different molecular weights, is still today the most used compound for wood consolidation. However several problems appear consequent to the presence of PEG into wood, so the study of different consolidants is required. In the wood lifetime various agents alter the chemical structure of its main components. In detail, water and biological agents can favour hydrolysis reactions which cause the prevalent loss of hemicelluloses and cellulose, which represent the backbone of the ligneous structure. The goal of this study is the synthesis and characterization of some novel wood consolidants provided with a chemical structure similar to the wood, in order not to alter its aesthetic, mechanical and physical characteristics. Several hydroxylated compounds have been synthesized and characterized in order to obtain water soluble compounds with a high affinity for polar materials as wood, paper and natural fibres. The interest for the synthetic procedures is the use of renewable resources as starting compounds. Two different types of compounds have been designed and synthesized: polysaccharides obtained from cellulose etherification reactions and hydroxylated oligoamides obtained from polycondensation reactions. Preliminary tests of application of the synthesized polymers on archaeological wood samples have been performed in order to verify their ability to penetrate inside cellular walls. After the treatment, some physical wood properties have been evaluated.