A preliminary study on using linseed oil emulsion in dressing archaeological leather

The main goal of this study was to study and evaluate the effect of linseed oil and glycerine emulsion a surface treatment on appearance and chemical composition of archaeological leather samples, which were taken from a historical leather book binding back to 1858, 1653 & 1472 A.D, have been treated with linseed emulsion then a visual assessment, pH measurements, thermal analysis methods (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study and mechanical properties determination were undertaken, to see if any significant structural or chemical differences could be detected between “untreated” and “treated” leather. No dramatic changes in functional groups on the leather surface, as monitored by infrared spectroscopy, occurred in the samples before and after treatment; pH values, however, show that emulation may give good results in decreasing the acidity of the treated leather. The emulsion enhanced thermal & mechanical properties of treated samples.