Protective coating for paper: new development and analytical characterization

A novel modified “sol-gel” method based on the carboxylate-alumoxanes has been developed for the fabrication of coatings for the protection of degradation of paper. Two types of paper chosen for study: the filter paper (Whatman) and particulate matter from the several pages of ancient manuscript at Lithuanian National M. Mazvydas Library. All paper samples used in this study were coated by hexanato-alumoxane. The obtained hexanato-alumoxane was dissolved in CHCl3, and paper specimens were treated in hexanato-alumoxane solution. The filter paper samples were artificially aged at different conditions. All the filter paper samples (untreated, impregnated with hexanato-alumoxane and treated-uncoated) were examined by SEM. The hexanato-alumoxane treated and treated-uncoated paper samples were visually indistinguishable from their untreated equivalents. Analytical characterization of hexanato-alumoxane coated and treated-uncoated of particulate matter from the ancient manuscript showed no degradation of its cellulosic substrate.