An attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic study of waterlogged woods treated with melamine formaldehyde

Abstract

Various different methods are used for the conservation of waterlogged wood. One of them is melamine formaldehyde method which is also used for the conservation of highly degraded woods of the Yenikapı shipwrecks. In this method, melamine formaldehyde resin is replaced with the water inside the waterlogged wood. After the impregnation and the drying process, the acquire dimensional stability. In order to sustain a successful conservation procedure, the wood should be impregnated with the resin. Otherwise, shrinkage and collapse of the wood occur in the parts which are not impregnated with the resin. In this study, 20 melamine formaldehyde treated core samples, which were taken from Yenikapı shipwrecks, were analysed with FTIR-ATR to determine the success of the impregnation.Spectra of fresh wood, waterlogged wood, and melamine formaldehyde treated wood were analysed considering wood species in order to determine significant bands which are related to melamine formaldehyde. On the spectra of melamine formaldehyde treated woods, the band was determined at ∼ 810 cm−1 which is formed due to the presence of triazine. With this gained information, FTIR analyses were done on the wood samples that were in the impregnation boxes. The band at ∼ 810 cm−1 was determined on the spectra of these samples. It showed that woods were impregnated with melamine formaldehyde and that they can be dried in order to end the process.