Preliminary Study on the Different Effects of Consolidation Treatments in Heartwood and Sapwood of a Decayed Gymnosperm Wood

The aim of this research is to study and compare the different effects of some natural andsynthetic polymers dissolved in different solvents on sapwood and heartwood samples takenfrom an archaeological decayed Cupressus sempervirens, a gymnosperm wood that hadbeen often imported into Egypt throughout history. Five commonly used adhesives werechosen for this purpose: Paraloid B 72 dissolved in acetone (3% w/v), Methyl cellulosedissolved in water (1.5% w/v), Funori dissolved in ethyl alcohol 70% (3% w/v), Gum Arabicdissolved in water (3% w/v) and Poly vinyl acetate (PVAc) diluted in water (50% v/v).Untreated sapwood and heartwood samples and treated sapwood samples were examinedusing scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS). For monitoring the chemical changes andmodifications, which occurred in the wood due to the chemical effects of the consolidants,untreated and treated sapwood and heartwood samples were analyzed with an FTIRspectrometer.