Polymer preservatives – PEG and chitosan hydrogels – protect wooden artefacts
Wooden artefacts such as the Mary Rose, are typically treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions to prevent the wood from shrinking as it loses water molecules and dries out. PEG as preservatives works by replacing the water molecules held by cells within the wood. Recently, a novel polymer hydrogel that soaks into wood and provides […]