| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Mahmoud, M. ¹ , Al-Gaoudi, H. ² & Hassan, R. <sup>3

1</sup> Postgraduate Candidate, Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Luxor Univ. Luxor, Egypt.
² Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology Luxor Univ., Luxor, Egypt.
³ Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt.

Abstract:
The main goal of the current study is a detection of the degrading mechanisms of historical leather binding of a manuscript from at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Library in Cairo; by using various analytical techniques to map the conservation steps in shades of these mechanism data The used analysis included visual assessment, investigation of the surface using a digital microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Attenuated total reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), identification of fungi, and measurement of pH. The results revealed several aspects of deterioration in the historical leather object such as erosion, brittleness, white stains, dust, fungal stains, and cracks, tears, peeling of the outer layer, missing and burnt parts, adhesive residue, holes, insect tunnels, and abrasion. Furthermore; by the analysis of the grain pattern by digital microscope. We observed that the leather tanned from goat skin, Results of pH showed that the acidity of the leather remained in its typically state and the leather binding did not exhibit any hydrolysis nor oxidation. The SEM results showed that the grain layer of the leather surface has been completely destroyed in some parts of leather furthermore advanced erosion fibers, ATR-FTIR analysis revealed degradation in the chemical composition of the historical leather binding. Aspergillus niger and yeast fungi were found to be the most dominant fungi. Overall, all the analytical techniques used in this study confirmed that the historical leather bookbinding of the manuscript is in urgent need of conservation.

Keywords:
Erosion Leather deterioration Scanning electron microscope Aspergillus niger Environmental conditions

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