Nanoparticle de-acidification of the Mary Rose

DOI: 10.1016/S1369-7021(11)70166-3

Authors: Eleanor J. Schofield (Mary Rose Trust) , Ritimukta Sarangi (Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource) , Apurva Mehta (Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource) , A. Mark Jones (Mary Rose Trust) , Fred J. W. Mosselmans (Diamond Light Source) , Alan V. Chadwick (University of Kent at Canterbury)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials Today , VOL 14 , PAGES 354 - 358

State: Published (Approved)
Published: July 2011

Abstract: The preservation of waterlogged archaeological wooden finds, such as Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose[1], [2] and [3], is complicated by the biological, chemical, and mechanical changes induced from prolonged exposure to a marine environment. Of particular concern are sulfur species that form acidic compounds that attack wood4. Here we show that different sulfur compounds do not form acids at the same rate or pathway and propose a preservation strategy of applying SrCO3 nanoparticles. These nanoparticles not only neutralize problematic sulfuric acid, but also reduced sulfur compounds, such as sulfur and pyrite, which pose a long term threat. This is the first treatment that eliminates acidification at the root. Although this strategy was devised for the Mary Rose, it could be employed to preserve any archaeological organic artifact rich in problematic sulfur, from sunken ships and silk tapestries to ancient texts and parchments.

Diamond Keywords: Archeology

Subject Areas: Archaeological and Cultural Heritage, Chemistry, Materials


Instruments: I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy

Added On: 12/07/2011 09:11

Documents:
1-s2.0-S1369702111701663-main.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Cultural Heritage Humanities Chemistry Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)