Preservation of paper and textile materials

The present invention relates to the preservation of paper articles (e.g., books, manuscripts, documents) and textiles articles (e.g., paintings on canvas, clothing, etc.) through the application of an amorphous fluoropolymer by, for example, spraying, dipping or brushing the article to be preserved with a solution of the fluoropolymer. A method is disclosed for strengthening a paper or textile article. The method involves (a) applying to the article a solution of an amorphous fluoropolymer in a perfluoroalkane solvent; and (b) drying the article. Also disclosed are strengthened paper and textile articles which include a fibrous paper or textile substrate, and amorphous fluoropolymer interconnecting fibers of the substrate.