EVALUATION OF STARCH AND CELLULOSE BASED CONSOLIDATION MATERIALS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PAPYRUS

In this study, polysaccharides, namely, potato starch, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), were used as consolidation materials for papyrus. The starch solution was applied on papyrus strips by two different methods: by brush and by an ultrasonic humidifier, the latter being a new approach for the application of consolidation materials. The consolidated papyrus was subjected to a thermal ageing study and several measurements were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the selected consolidation materials and of the two different application methods of starch. The mechanical properties of the consolidated papyrus strips were evaluated by measuring the tensile strength and elongation. FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the papyrus strips were performed before and after thermal ageing. The study showed that CNC and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose improved the mechanical properties of the tested strips. Applying potato starch using the ultrasonic humidifier improved the mechanical properties of the consolidated strips more significantly than its application by brush.