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Treatment of air dried archaeological wool textiles from waterlogged environment

    Publications: Contribution to conference › Paper › Research › peer-review

    Abstract

    Air-dried, wet archaeological wool textiles can be flat and stiff with brittle fibers, but is this a permanent collapse or can they regain their size in water? Iron Age textiles were tested comparing the width of dry fibers with the width of fibers treated in water or 70% ethanol. Both liquids expanded the fibers and the yarn increased in size, resulting in more flexible and less brittle textiles. This property
    was kept when the textiles were dried by stepwise dehydration in ethanol, acetone, and white spirit with a final treatment in 5% lanolin. Preliminary tests on brittle textiles can be performed on small samples to investigate if they will gain in flexibility by this method.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication date2014
    Number of pages8
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    EventICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference: Building Strong Culture through Conservation - ICOM-CC, Melbourne, Australia
    Duration: 15 Sept 2014 → 19 Sept 2014

    Conference

    ConferenceICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference
    LocationICOM-CC
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CityMelbourne
    Period15/09/2014 → 19/09/2014

    Keywords

    • Archaeological textiles
    • swelling
    • wool

    Artistic research

    • No

    Access to Document

    • 1 Organisation and participation in conference

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