Natural and Synthetic Polymer Hydrogels for Conserving Paper Manuscripts: Bridging Polymer Science and Archaeology

Paper manuscripts in museums, stores, and libraries often exhibit various stains contributing to their degradation. Cleaning these stains is crucial for the preservation of these valuable artifacts. Unfortunately, cleaning these stains frequently affects the manuscript, whereas traditional cleaning methods can harm the delicate fibers of the paper. As a result, art conservators are constantly seeking innovative cleaning techniques to address this challenge. Recently, hydrogels have appeared as a promising substitute to traditional methods, offering effective stain removal while minimizing damage to paper. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of common stains found on archaeological paper manuscripts, their deterioration mechanisms, and the importance of proper cleaning techniques. It also explores the structure, classification, and characterization of hydrogels, essential tools in art conservation. Codependency: Different hydrogels, such as those based on polysaccharide hydrogels and synthetic polymers, are examined in detail, highlighting their suitability and unique properties for specific conservation applications. Moreover, this review also notices and discusses these materials' physicochemical properties and practical aspects, offering a range of innovative formulations to address the limitations of conventional solvent thickeners. Integrating knowledge of stain removal techniques and gel properties provides valuable insights to the conservation community and enhances the preservation of paper manuscripts for future generations.