Hui Yu

Palm-leaf manuscripts (PLMs) represent a significant component of cultural heritage as a medium for information recording. However, the inherent fragility of these organic materials presents a major challenge for their long-term preservation. Therefore, enhancing the durability of PLMs to ensure longevity has become a critical issue in conservation research. This study includes an examination of the potential of two polymers, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS), for PLM encapsulation. The encapsulation effects of these materials were assessed through artificial moist heat-accelerated aging tests, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of structural and mechanical properties at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. The results indicated that CPAM provided superior performance in terms of gloss, color stability, hydrophobicity, pH value, and tensile properties, whereas CQAS demonstrated notable antifungal efficacy. Both CPAM and CQAS possess distinct advantages and can significantly contribute to the preservation of PLMs. This work offers valuable insights for developing effective conservation strategies, emphasizing the potential of CPAM and CQAS as viable encapsulation materials in the face of conservation requirements.

The crystallinity indices (CrI) of Chinese handmade papers were investigated using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Four Chinese handmade papers, Yingchun, Zhuma, Yuanshu and Longxucao papers were used as model substrates of mulberry bark, ramie, bamboo and Eulaliopsis binata papers, respectively. Two forms of the paper samples, paper sheets and their comminuted powders, were used in this study. The results showed that their XRD patterns belong to the cellulose-I type and I_β dominates the cellulose microstructure of these paper samples. Moreover, it was found that the microstructures and CrIs of cellulose of these papers were changed by the grinding treatment. This work suggested that the sheet form of the handmade papers is suitable to determine CrI by XRD, despite the contribution of non-cellulosic components in the papers. The order of CrIs for these paper sheet samples was Yingchun, Zhuma, Longxucao and Yuanshu papers. Besides CrIs, differences in cross-sectional areas of the crystalline zone of cellulose can be used for comparing different types of handmade papers. It was also found that the CrIs and crystallite size of paper cellulose varied between the sheet samples and the powder samples, illustrating that the pulverisation has a negative influence on the microstructure of the handmade papers.

In the early seventeenth century the Dutch East India Company (VOC) began providing the European market with Chinese porcelain. The shapes of these objects were inspired by European bowls, cups and...