A new conservation material for gold in heritage wall paintings: polymer-stabilized nanogold gels (NGGs)

Gilded wall paintings such as those in Petra-Jordan undergo deterioration processes such as delamination and loss of the gold layer. The aim of this work is to produce a functioning long-lasting adhesive that compensates for binder and gold loss while stabilising the gold layer. Polymer-stabilised gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a conservation material for gilded heritage paintings (Nano Gold Gel (NGG)) were synthesised using two facile and affordable synthesis approaches. AuNPs enhance the stability of the adhesive polymer over time and introduce mass conservation to the gold layer. Two natural polymers and one synthetic polymer, frequently used in conservation as adhesives, were used as reducing agents and stabilisers for the nanoparticles. The chemical alteration of the polymers and the Au-polymer interaction at the molecular level were investigated with FTIR spectroscopy, while the chemical environment of gold was investigated with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS). The synthesized NGG was applied on the replica samples to reattach the gold layer to its support. Characterisation results indicate that the formation of AuNPs stabilised by the three polymers did not alter the chemical structure of the polymers. The applied NGG successfully achieved re-adhesion and exhibited appropriate optical and chemical properties for use as a conservation material.