Abstract:
Sanxingdui site is the ancient Shu cultural ruins with the widest distribution, longest duration and richest cultural connotation found so far in southwest China. The large number of ancient ivory artifacts unearthed at this site have important historical, cultural, and scientific research value. Due to the high moisture content and serious crisp powder problem of the unearthed ivory artifacts, the conventional reinforcement materials for bone artifacts such as hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and Paraloid B72 have poor permeability and unsatisfactory reinforcement effect. In order to effectively protect ivory artifacts, the green flexible long chain siloxane material was synthesized, and the reinforcement experimental research was carried out by drip infiltration on the basis of understanding the composition structure and disease types of ivory artifacts unearthed at Sanxingdui site. The mechanical properties, micro-morphology and surface water infiltration of reinforced ivory artifacts were studied by means of electronic universal testing machine, scanning electron microscope and static water contact angle tester.The results showed that the prepared siloxane materials had good permeability in the water-saturated ivory artifacts, thus effectively filling the hole defects and preventing the collapse of the body. The mechanical properties and hydrophobicity of the ivory reinforced by the siloxane materials were significantly improved, and the original appearance of the ivory artifacts was not changed. The prepared siloxane materials were suitable for the reinforcement protection of the ivory artifacts with severe crispy powder problem excavated in humid environment.