New trials in the consolidation of waterlogged archaeological wood with different acetone-carried products
Some acetone-carried consolidants for waterlogged archaeological wood were tested in order to evaluate treatments able to save time and energy. In details, colophony (rosin), two esterified colophonies (Rosin 100® and Rosin 459®), a mixture of colophony with PEG 3400 and a vinyl acetate - vinyl versate copolymer (Vinavil 8020S®) were tested. The treatments were carried out at temperatures of 20 and 35 °C on waterlogged maritime pine, elm, oak and beech. The materials came from the archaeological Site of the ancient ships of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy) and were dated back to VII cent. BC II cent. AD. To evaluate the processes, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability of treated woo…
On site consolidation of burnt and partially charred wood in dry conditions
Abstract Forty years ago in a xx th-century church in Torino, a small fire partially burned some of the decorative external boards of the sound-box of the organ. The focus of this present work was to find a treatment able to consolidate partially burnt wood in dry conditions, in which the external charred layer would be lost if not well preserved because of its incoherence. The product had to be applied onsite on an architectural structure intended to be reused again (and not simply exhibited). This circumstance is rarely encountered in the conservation of wooden Cultural Heritage. The efficacy of treatments was evaluated on the basis of a suitable and original experimental methodology, whi…
A methodological approach in the evaluation of the efficacy of treatments for the dimensional stabilisation of waterlogged archaeological wood
Abstract The aim of the work is to set up a methodological approach to verify the effectiveness of the treatments of decayed waterlogged archaeological wood and to point out the proper thermo-hygrometric conditions for its preservation after treatment. The treatments were performed on wood samples of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton), oak (Quercus sp. caducifolia), elm (Ulmus cf. minor) and strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), obtained from stems pertaining to the original vegetation found in the excavation site of the Ancient Ships in Pisa (Italy), and dated from seventh century BC to second century AD The utilised products were: Polyethylene Glycols (PEG) of various molecular weights, a…
Comparison of thermal expansion of wood and epoxy adhesives
Epoxy-based adhesives are used both in the consolidation of decayed timbers and for new structural joints. Investigating the compatibility of wood and epoxy adhesives provides a better knowledge of the long-term behaviour of wood-epoxy joints. Besides mechanical compatibility, also temperature-related parameters are relevant in this context. The values of the thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) of two wood species (Spruce, Picea abies and Iroko, Clorophora excelsa) and four different epoxy resins have been compared using a modified test method that allows for nearly iso-hygric conditions of the wood specimens. Minor differences in TEC have been observed between wood in the transversal-to-t…
A shear test for structural adhesives used in the consolidation of old timber
A test method was developed specifically for structural adhesives used in thick joints. It is based on compressive shear loading of glued joints (GJ) and solid wood (SW) specimens, before and after a suitable accelerated ageing cycle. The evaluation of results is based on the ratios of wet strength to dry strength and on the comparison of GJ specimens to SW specimens which are prepared from the same batch of wood, in order to minimise the influence of the variability in wood characteristics. On a group of 10 epoxy-based adhesives, specifically marketed for the consolidation of old timber structures, the method has proved to be effective to differentiate the performances of each product. Amo…
Bio-inspired consolidants derived from crystalline nanocellulose for decayed wood
Abstract Novel bio-inspired materials derived from crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) have been tested as wood consolidants. A suspension of CNC, produced by acid hydrolysis of cellulose and used as such or mixed with lignin and/or siloxane derivatives (PDMS), was applied on rotted wood samples of Norway spruce. X-Ray diffraction analysis on CNC powder showed high crystallinity index. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement indicated a nearly uniform particle size distribution with an average hydrodynamic diameter for pure CNC smaller than that in the mixtures. Raman and FTIR spectroscopies suggested interactions between lignin, PDMS and CNC components. The storage modulus of wood samples, …
A delamination test for structural wood adhesives used in thick joints
A test method was developed for the measurement of delamination of structural wood adhesives applied in thick joints. Large differences were observed within a range of 8 commercial epoxy-based products.