Rui Yao Lin

Traditional handmade bamboo paper is a commonly used material for the restoration of ancient books and the printing of classic texts. This study discussed the ageing behavior of handmade bamboo paper under dry thermal ageing conditions. The filter paper composed of cellulose serves as a reference example. The results showed that the mechanical properties of bamboo paper containing lignin remained stable for a certain period of time before declining when the pH was less than 7. While the mechanical properties of the filter paper immediately decreased when the pH falls below 7.0. Pore structure analysis indicated that bamboo paper undergoes substantial structural changes in the early stages of aging, with an increase in specific surface area and pore volume, and a decrease in average pore size. These changes then stabilize over time. This may be attributed to the fact that hemicellulose and lignin help maintain the overall integrity of the bamboo paper fibers.The study provides a scientific basis for understanding bamboo paper ageing mechanisms and offers references for preserving historical documents.

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.