Comparative Hydrodynamic Study on Non-Aqueous Soluble Archaeological Wood Consolidants: Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH Siloxanes

Cutajar, Michelle; Stockman, Robert A.; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Zisi, Angeliki; Harding, Stephen E.

Abstract

Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH both have a demonstrable ability as consolidants for archaeological wood. This makes them both potential treatment options for the Oseberg collection, which is one of the most important archaeological finds from the Viking era. Both Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH are soluble in organic solvents, offering a useful alternative to aqueous-based consolidants. Extensive characterisation studies were carried out on both of these polymers, with the use of analytical ultracentrifugation and viscometry, for the benefit of conservators wanting to know more about the physical properties of these materials. Short column sedimentation equilibrium analysis using SEDFIT-MSTAR revealed a weight-average molar mass (weight-average molecular weight) Mw of (54.0 ± 1.5) kDa (kg · mol−1) for Butvar B-98, while four samples of PDMS-OH siloxanes (each with a different molar mass) had an Mw of (52.5 ± 3.0) kDa, (38.8 ± 1.5) kDa, (6.2 ± 0.7) kDa and (1.6 ± 0.1) kDa. Sedimentation velocity confirmed that all polymers were heterogeneous, with a wide range of molar masses. All molecular species showed considerable conformational asymmetry from measurements of intrinsic viscosity, which would facilitate networking interactions as consolidants. It is anticipated that the accumulated data on these two consolidants will enable conservators to make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing which treatment to administer to archaeological artefacts.

Citation

Cutajar, M., Stockman, R. A., Braovac, S., Steindal, C. C., Zisi, A., & Harding, S. E. (2022). Comparative Hydrodynamic Study on Non-Aqueous Soluble Archaeological Wood Consolidants: Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH Siloxanes. Molecules, 27(7), Article 2133. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27072133

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 25, 2022
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 13, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 13, 2022
• Journal: Molecules
• Electronic ISSN: 1420-3049
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: 2133
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27072133
• Keywords: Chemistry (miscellaneous); Analytical Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; Molecular Medicine; Drug Discovery; Pharmaceutical Science
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7688274
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/7/2133