TiO2 nanoparticles loaded onto methyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate nanopolymers as consolidation and antimicrobial agents for ivory artefacts

Purpose Ivory artifacts are considered one of the rare ethnographic collections that have been covered in a few studies in terms of treatment and conservation. This study aims to form a nanocomposite of titanium dioxide nanoparticles) TiO2 (at a concentration of 1% and 2% loaded on methyl methacrylate (MMA) 70% and ethyl acrylate (EA) 30% nano polymer, and use it as a consolidation and antimicrobial agent for ivory collectibles. Design/methodology/approach Many methods of examination and analysis were used to evaluate the prepared nanocomposite and the treated ivory samples. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the TiO2/MMA/EA nanocomposite. Scanning electron microscopy, compressive strength testing and spectroscopic analysis with attenuated total reflectance to perform fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to evaluate the properties of ivory samples treated with TiO2/MMA/EA nanocomposite. Findings Characterization of nanocomposite indicates the homogeneity of the prepared nanocomposite grains and their high efficiency in resisting microbes. The evaluation of ivory samples treated with TiO2/MMA/EA nanocomposite also indicated improvement in the morphological, mechanical and chemical properties. Originality/value The novelty of the study is the use of a 3% MMA/EA Nano polymer as a consolidating agent carrying TiO2 nanoparticles to remove the defects of this polymer in its natural form, and its use in the form of a nanocomposite as an antimicrobial and consolidation agent for ivory artifacts.