In-situ growth of calcium sulfate dihydrate as a consolidating material for the archaeological bones

Abstract Calcium sulfate dihydrate was grown in-situ on the bone relics as a consolidating material in this study. It was accomplished by introduction of the suspension liquid of nano calcium hydroxide in alcohol and the solution of ammonium sulfate in water on the surface of the bones successively. In the process, calcium hydroxide reacted with ammonium sulfate solution and a continuous phase of calcium sulfate dihydrate was formed. Due to the formation of the calcium sulfate dihydrate continuous phase, the integrity of the bone relics was reestablished and the strength of them was enhanced. The protective efficacy of this method was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), microhardness, porosimetry and color difference measurement.