Effects of various treatment methods on decay resistance and dimensional stability of nano-silver-treated Persian/Shiraz inlay (Khatam)

Four types of Shiraz inlay (Khatam) samples were impregnated with nano-silver solution via spraying (S), a vacuum desiccator (VD), and immersion/dipping (I/D) for 2 h and 24 h techniques. The decay resistance and dimensional stability were evaluated after each treatment. The impregnated specimens were exposed to white-rot fungus for 10 weeks by the agar-plate method, and the weight loss was determined to assess decay. The dimensional stability of samples after 2 and 24 h soaking in water were measured. According to the results, the highest weight loss (13.1%) was observed in the Shesh-Pareh Khatam (SPK)-untreated samples and the lowest weight loss (1.5%) occurred in the Ostokhani Khatam (OK)-VD-treated samples. The highest volumetric shrinkage (39.0%) was observed in the Haft Shamseh Alam-Zar Khatam (HSAZK)-untreated samples after 24 h soaking, and the lowest volumetric shrinkage (3.8%) was noted in the OK-S-treated samples after 2 h soaking. The highest volumetric swelling (64.1%) was observed in the HSAZK-untreated samples after 24 h soaking, and the lowest volumetric swelling (4%) was found in the OK-S-treated samples after 2 h soaking in water. Generally, the highest anti-shrinkage-efficiency (111.0%) and anti-swelling-efficiency (145.4%) after 24 h soaking in water were observed in the OK-S-treated and SPK-VD-treated samples, respectively.