| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Abdel-Kawy, M. ¹ , ² , Ali M. ¹ & Abdel-Maksoud, G. ³ , ⁴ (*)

¹ Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Luxor Univ., Luxor, Egypt.
² College of Archaeology & Cultural Heritage, Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport Aswan, Egypt. Japan Uni. of -Heritage Science Program, School of Humanities, Faculty of Int. Business & Humanities (FIBH), Egypt
³ Science & Technology (E-JUST), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexanderia, Egypt. Organic Materials Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt.

Abstract:
Iron rust stains are considered one of the most dangerous stains that affect the components of historical paper documents and manuscripts in museums, libraries, and archives. They lead to a decrease in the chemical and physical stability of historical papers. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview to understand the nature, formation, causes, aspects, and mechanisms of deterioration of iron rust stains on historical paper manuscripts and documents. It will offer a detailed explanation of all traditional and advanced methods used to remove them, as well as analytical techniques to identify them. The results indicate that the formation of iron rust stains (oxides such as Fe3O4, Fe2O3) is caused by the oxidation of iron ions by atmospheric oxidants (O2) in the presence of water. There are various aspects of deterioration caused by iron rust stains, such as discoloration, holes, etc. Cleaning iron rust stains is a vital process in the treatment of paper manuscripts, as it helps prevent damage and increase the chemical stability of the manuscripts. There are many cleaning methods used to remove iron rust stains, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Restorers always opt for the least damaging and most efficient method, such as mechanical cleaning, laser cleaning, plasma cleaning, etc. Various analytical methods are used to identify iron rust stains and explain their deterioration mechanism, such as X-ray analysis, microscopes, etc.

Keywords:
Historical paper manuscript Iron rust stains Deterioration Analytical techniques Cleaning techniques

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