Many of the excavated pottery artifacts are suffering from different deterioration aspects. The pressure of burial environment is considered the most deteriorative agent for pottery in soil, which leads to damage of the artifact. Therefore, it is necessary to join these damaged parts to be suitable for museum display. The adhesive materials play a significant role in the joining processes of these artifacts. In this study, Paraloid B-72 in its traditional and nano form was prepared (50% in acetone) as adhesive for pottery artifacts. Twelve pottery tiles (14 ×4×1 cm) were prepared and then were adhered together with the adhesive in traditional and nano forms. The pottery samples were exposed to artificial aging as follows; accelerated heat-humid aging (temperature 100°C and 60% relative humidity) and light aging by U.V lamp for 100 hours. Visual assessment and several analytical techniques were used for the evaluation of the selected adhesive. The analytical techniques are transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), color change and tensile strength. The results obtained from transmission electron microscope showed that grain size of nano paraloid was ranging from 33 to 51 nm where the particle size of the traditional paraloid was in the range between 103 to 150 nm. Visual assessment proved that nano paraloid had some simple changes in appearance. Scanning electron microscope revealed that the nano paraloid was more resistance for aging than traditional form. Color change revealed that nano paraloid gave the lowest level of total color differences (ΔE) after light, heat-humid and light-heat aging with 2.31, 3.26 and 4.60 respectively. The tensile strength revealed that nano paraloid gave highest tensile strength (81.3 N/mm2). According to these results, we recommend the use of nano paraloid in joining of archaeological pottery artifacts.

A pottery sarcophagus from Saqqara excavation, Egypt suffered from different deterioration aspects including color change, pitting, and separation of some parts of the body.• Documentation and conservation treatments were performed including cleaning, joining, and completion. • The data obtained improved knowledge about the conservation of pottery and led to a detailed protocol for its treatment.

Many excavations contain potsherds that have suffered from different aspects of deterioration, including salt crystallization, dirt deposition, and soot. The different stains play an important role in the deterioration of archaeological pottery, such as the disappearance of the original surface and discoloration. The present study aims to evaluate some nanoparticles in an innovative poultice form to be used to clean archaeological pottery. In this study, the nanoparticles (NPs) of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) have been prepared at 5% and in the poultice form to be used for the cleaning process of archaeological potsherds excavated from the excavation site at Abusir. Different analytical techniques, such as transmission electron microscope (TEM), digital microscope, stereomicroscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and measurement of color change have been used to characterize the studied potsherds and evaluate the cleaning process. The results of the XRD analysis showed the presence of some main minerals, such as albite, quartz, diopside, hematite, spinel and chloride salt (halite). The results of the microscopic investigation used in the evaluation process revealed that using TiO2 NPs poultice perfectly removed soot and dust deposits from the surface, and the cleaned surface became smooth. The results of elemental analysis by (SEM-EDX) showed the effective reduction in the percentage of salts and soot from the treated potsherds by TiO2 NPs poultice to be 3.38% and 6.68%, respectively. The measurement of color change revealed that the treated potsherds by TiO2 NPs poultice gave the highest (ΔE*=9.41), confirming this poultice's effective role in cleaning archaeological potsherds. Based on the results of different analytical techniques used in the evaluation process, the TiO2 NPs poultice is recommended for use in the cleaning process of archaeological pottery.

The current work describes the different methods used to investigate various potsherds. The potsherds were discovered at the Abusir archaeological site, dating back to the Old Kingdom period. This research aims to study the chemical and mineralogical composition of the potsherds and salt crystallization. For this purpose, the analytical study was carried out using different techniques such as a digital and polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersion (SEM/EDX), and X-ray diffraction. Microscopic examination shows that potsherds suffer, from different deterioration aspects, such as salt crystallization, accumulation of dust, and black spots. The results of the polarized microscope proved that sand, grog powder, and calcite were used as additive materials to improve clay's properties. The EDX and XRD methods used in the current work provide an essential chemical view of the structure of the samples. The results of EDX confirmed the presence of a high percentage of chloride salts, iron, and aluminium oxides. XRD results revealed that the firing temperature of the potsherds is high, around 850-950 oC. Therefore, the hardness of these sherds is high. There is little doubt that this will aid in conserving this valuable pottery.

Purpose The study aims to assess the efficiency of nanocomposite to improve the properties of gap-filling materials for pottery artifacts. Design/methodology/approach Five different pastes were used in the laboratory studies. The pastes consist mainly of pottery powder (grog), dental plaster, microballoons and an adhesive of Primal AC33, nano-silica and nano kaolinite in various concentrations. The prepared samples were subjected to accelerated heat and light aging. Besides, some investigations were used to evaluate the efficacy of the additive nanomaterials, such as TEM, digital and scanning electron microscopy microscopes. Contact angle, color change, shrinkage degree, physical properties and compressive strength tests were also conducted. Findings The results indicated that using Nano-silica considerably improves the mechanical strength and decreases the shrinkage of gap-filling materials. According to the results, a mixture of grog, microballoons and Primal AC33/Nano-silica Nanocomposites is the optimal gap-filling paste for archaeological pottery. Moreover, this paste showed a higher contact angle (120°), lower color change (ΔE = 2.62), lower shrinkage (3.3%), lower water absorption (3.36%), lower porosity (5.05%) and higher compressive strength (5124 N/mm2). Originality/value This paper attains to develop an economic polymer-nanocomposite that can be used with gap-filling materials for pottery artifacts.