Study on the Performance of Acrylic Polyurethane for the Protection of Handwriting on Paper Relics

Abstract

There are many important cultural relics in China, including many paper relics. Therefore, it is particularly important to find methods of protecting the handwriting in paper relics. This study focuses on the effects acrylic polyurethane materials have on preserving handwriting in paper relics by examining the color change and diffusion of handwriting before and after reinforcement treatments on handwriting materials, including ink, carbon ink, blue-black ink, pure blue ink, red ink, and pencil. The acrylic polyurethane materials have a certain degree of stability and enhance the handwriting of paper relics. We analyzed the acrylic polyurethane reinforcement material in terms of acid resistance, alkali resistance, oxidation resistance, dry heat aging resistance, and durability. The experimental results show that the optimal reinforcement concentration is within 15% for ink, 10% for carbon ink, 20% for blue-black ink, 15% to 20% for pure blue ink, and 3% for red ink and pencil. Finally, the surface of the reinforced paper and handwriting were observed through laser microscopy, SEM, EDS, and infrared spectroscopy and the protective effect of acrylic polyurethane reinforcement material on handwriting was determined.