Some Practical Aspects of Nanocellulose Film: Characterization, Expansion and Shrinking Tests, and Techniques to Create Remoistenable Nanocellulose

Robin Canham; Alison Murray; Rosaleen Hill

doi:10.1515/res-2022-0031

Article

Some Practical Aspects of Nanocellulose Film: Characterization, Expansion and Shrinking Tests, and Techniques to Create Remoistenable Nanocellulose

Robin Canham , Alison Murray and Rosaleen Hill

Published/Copyright: June 12, 2023

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From the journal Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material Volume 44 Issue 3

Abstract

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), commonly referred to as nanocellulose, is an emerging conservation material with significant potential for application in a wide range of conservation treatments. Due to its properties of transparency and mechanical strength, nanocellulose film offers novel potential when thin tissues may not be suitable. However, when water or aqueous adhesives are applied to nanocellulose, it loses stability and becomes pulpy, making practical use problematic. Additionally, nanocellulose film can shrink upon drying, causing planar deformation. For these reasons, adhesives used with nanocellulose are limited in published treatments to date. The nanocellulose film used in this study was characterized and expansion and shrinking tests were conducted to better understand how nanocellulose film reacts when water and ethanol are introduced. The potential of using nanocellulose film in a remoistenable form is also explored. Results found that nanocellulose film behaved differently than Japanese tissue when water was introduced. While each expanded when water was introduced, the nanocellulose film shrunk 11 % from its initial size when dry, whereas the Japanese tissue returned to its initial size. Practical techniques are recommended to create remoistenable nanocellulose film with a selection of adhesives. Notably, remoistenable nanocellulose films created with methylcellulose and gelatine showed promising initial results.

Zusammenfassung

Mikrofibrillierte Cellulose (MFC), gemeinhin als Nanocellulose bezeichnet, wird vermehrt in der Restaurierung eingesetzt und hat großes Potenzial für eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Anwendungen. Aufgrund ihrer Transparenz und mechanischen Festigkeit bieten Nanocellulose-Filme Alternativen für den Einsatz dünner Papiere. Allerdings verlieren Nanocellulose-Filme bei Feuchtigkeits- oder Wassereintrag bzw. beim Auftrag wässriger Klebstoffe an Stabilität und können sich sogar zu einem Brei auflösen, was die praktische Anwendung erschwert. Außerdem können Nanocellulose-Filme beim Trocknen schrumpfen, was zu Deformierungen des Films führt. Aus diesen Gründen wurden in Publikationen bislang nur eine eingeschränkte Auswahl an Klebstoffen in Kombination mit Nanocellulose beschrieben. Die Eigenschaften der in dieser Studie hergestellten Nanocellulose-Filme wurden beschrieben und ihr Ausdehnungs-und Schrumpfungsverhalten getestet, um besser zu verstehen, wie Nanocellulose-Filme reagieren, wenn Wasser und/oder Ethanol eingebracht wird. Außerdem wurden die Eigenschaften von klebstoffbeschichteten, reaktivierbaren Nanocellulose-Filmen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich Nanocellulose-Filme bei Wassereintrag anders verhalten als Japanpapiere: Beide dehnten sich zwar durch Wassereinwirkung aus, aber Nanocellulose-Filme schrumpften nach dem Trocknen um 11% ihrer ursprünglichen Größe, während Japanpapiere wieder ihre ursprünglichen Dimensionen annahmen. Schließlich werden in dem Beitrag Methoden zur Beschichtung von Nanocellulose-Filmen mit einer Reihe unterschiedlicher Klebstoffe beschrieben. Vor allem die mit Methylcellulose und Gelatine hergestellten reaktivierbaren Nanocellulose-Filme zeigten vielversprechende erste Ergebnisse.

Keywords: nanocellulose; microfibrillated cellulose (MFC); cellulose nanofibrils (CNF); remoistenable tissue; precoated tissue

Schlüsselwörter: Nanocellulose; mikrofibrillierte Cellulose (MFC); Cellulose-Nanofibrillen (CNF); wiederbefeuchtbares Papier; vorbeschichtetes Papier

Corresponding author: Robin Canham, Master of Art Conservation, Master of Information Studies, W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections, Queen’s University Library, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, E-mail: robin.canham@queensu.ca

Funding source: Queen’s University, Department of Art History and Art Conservation

Funding source: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the following people who have provided expertise, collaboration, idea sharing, and encouragement, including Marissa Bartz, Sandrine Blais, Megan Creamer, Rémy Dreyfuss-Deseigne, Tiffany Eng Moore, Alison Freake, Stefanie Killen, Nataša Krsmanović, Crystal Maitland, Rachel Mochon, Terry O’Reilly, Andrea Pataki-Hundt, Lindsay Sisson, Camille Turner-Hehlen, Diogenes Vedoy, Roger S. Williams, and Richard Yeomans.

Research funding: This research was supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Queen’s University Department of Art History and Art Conservation.

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Published Online: 2023-06-12

Published in Print: 2023-09-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/res-2022-0031

Keywords for this article

nanocellulose; microfibrillated cellulose (MFC); cellulose nanofibrils (CNF); remoistenable tissue; precoated tissue