EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF SILICA AND ALUMINA NANOCOMPOSITES IN CONSOLIDATION AND PROTECTION OF CORRODED GLASS FROM EARLY ISLAMIC PERIOD IN EGYPT: AN MULTISCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate of silica and alumina nanocomposites in consolidation and protection of archaeological glass from early Islamic period in Egypt. Archaeological glass is exposed to deterioration by moisture, as water is considered one of the most dangerous damage factors that attack glass artifacts. This results in many aspects of deterioration including weeping glass, cracks, dulling, formation of weathering crusts, salt growing, and corroded surfaces. From this standpoint, materials which are used in the consolidation and protection of those glass artifacts must have the property of hydrophobicity in order to protect them from the harmful effects of water. In the last decade, polymer-nanoparticle composites have attracted great interest in the field of culture heritage conservation due to their unique multifunctional properties resulting from the high surface area and chemical activity of the nanoparticles dispersed in the polymers. In this study, Silicon dioxide (SiO2) and alumina oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles are added to silicon-based polymer (poly alkyl siloxane) (Silres BS-290) in order to improve their physiochemical and mechanical properties. This produced a significant improvement in the ability of the polymers to consolidate and protect archaeological glass. The treated samples are exposed to artificial ageing to test the efficiency of the consolidation materials. The properties of untreated, treated and aged glass samples were evaluated by TEM, stereo microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), colormetric measurements, static water contact angle, density and hardness tests (physical and mechanical properities). Results showed that the treated sample with SiO2/Al2O3/Poly siloxane nanocomposites are good candidates for consolidation and protection of glass objects.