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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the nature of archaeological papyrus damage and monitoring the mechanics of damage caused by black inks to the chemical properties of ancient papyrus. Design/methodology/approach: This study the papyrus surface with a digital microscopy "USB," examination and analyzing by "Scanning Electron Microscope," characterization of black ink used in writing the ancient papyrus using "Scanning Electron Microscopy" with (EDX). Detection of changes in the chemical bonds of ancient papyrus samples by "Fourier transform infrared" FTIR. Findings: The result confirmed that SEM examination showed the organization of the parenchyma cells that make up papyrus tissue. Characteristic waveform appears, it indicates the ancient Egyptian manufacturer's use of the (Strips Method) in the process of manufacturing the archaeological papyrus. Also, the appearance of (Over Lapping) stacking of papyrus slides. EDX analysis showed that the black ink used to write the papyrus was (Carbon Ink). High oxygen content in the papyrus sample analysis indicates deterioration of the cellulose fibers. FTIR spectrum showed that Arabic gum is the bonding material for carbon ink particles, it also showed that archaeological papyrus suffers from hydrolysis due to exposure of papyrus fibers to high moisture content or direct water, resulting in smudge, bleeding and fading of carbon ink on the archaeological papyrus support. Originality/value: The study is archaeological papyrus with black ink scripts from the excavation of the Qasr I brim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to identify the most common fungal species that grow on paper manuscripts and cause bio-deterioration. It also detects the impact of additive materials on fungal degrading and builds a wide database. Thus, it helps conservators understand this phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 15 samples were collected from different paper manuscripts suffering from fungi. The achievement of the study objectives depends on using a variety of analyzes, such as a microbiological study, which indicated that three main fungi grew on the paper samples. Then, a digital microscope and an environmental scanning electron microscope were used to detect the effect of fungi on paper fibers. Fourier transform infrared microscopy was used to identify the binding medium and the X-ray diffraction method was used to measure the crystallinity index of cellulose of the paper samples. Findings: Arabic gum was used as a binder medium with the samples. Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus Fumigatus and Aspergillus Clavatus were the most common fungal species that grew on the Qur'an papers under investigation. They also caused much common damage to the paper samples. The results of the analyzes also showed that the highest crystallinity index of cellulose was in the samples that contained the lowest rate of fungal growth. Originality/value: This paper highlights the relationship between fungal degradation and the multi-component nature of paper manuscripts. It builds a wide database that correlates the composition and the degradation of the Qur'an papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: What is the behavior of nano-polaroid in strengthening weak paper? What is the effect of adding nano-zinc oxide to nano-polaroid? This paper aims to answer these questions. Design/methodology/approach: A number of weak historical papers dating back to 1829 AD were treated with 2% of nano-polaroid and polaroid zinc oxide nanocomposites, respectively. After dryness, the samples were subjected to ultraviolet–ozone accelerated aging. Then, the effectiveness of the treatment was defined using the mechanical properties measurement, pH measurement, the chromatic change, scanning electron microscope investigation of the fibers surface and attenuated total reflectance analysis. Findings: Results revealed that N-polaroid strengthened the fiber surface without reducing the gloss of ink. With the loading of nano-zinc particles onto N-polaroid, the strengthening effect increased, especially after the aging processes where the tensile and elongation values reached the highest value. Not only this but also the nano-polaroid coated with ZnO NPs reduced the color change and yellowness during aging, where the ΔE value reached to 3.3 (an acceptable degree of change, not monitored by the naked eye). The acidity of the treated paper also decreased significantly after the treatment and the aging. The microscopic images detected the improvement of the fibers' structure where the fibers were swollen by the absorption of nanocomposites, which can be attributed to ZnO (NPs) that decreased the contact angle between the cellulose and the N-polaroid, which helped in filling the primary cells of fibers. Originality/value: The study addressed the reinforcement of the printed paper samples using nano-polaroid and ZnO polaroid nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]