A review of biopolymer-based wood consolidants for archaeological wood preservation

Crosby, Jack (2023) A review of biopolymer-based wood consolidants for archaeological wood preservation. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Biopolymers have been considered as a source of potential consolidating or film-forming agents for many years, with the Oseberg artefacts attracting the interest approaches based upon cellulose, chitosan and other biopolymers. With a strong a strong platform now established in using our understanding of these polymers there is now interest in seeing what modifications can be made to the polymer chain, whether this be the methylation or the addition of hydroxypropyl groups, and what changes these may have on the consolidation of severely degraded and waterlogged archaeological wood samples. This review focuses on four separate polymers of interest, namely hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylchitosan and sporopollenin. Cellulose and Chitosan based consolidants have a strong basis as consolidants and have been applied in the past to the Oseberg and Mary Rose restoration projects. Sporopollenin, with its reputation as possibly the toughest natural polymer, is a dream consolidant that could permanently solve the Oseberg Problem but issues surrounding solvents and ligin/cellulose interactions remain a big issue.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (MRes)
Supervisors: Harding, Stephen
Wakefield, Jennifer
Keywords: biopolymers, wood preservation, bioarchaeology
Subjects: C Auxiliary sciences of history > CC Archaeology
Q Science > QP Physiology > QP501 Animal biochemistry
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
Item ID: 76032
Depositing User: HARDING, Prof Stephen
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2024 11:12
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2024 11:12
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/76032

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