Calcium-Based Mineralized Hydrogels for Temporary Reinforcement and Conservation of Ancient Ivory Relics

Ancient ivory serves as an important witness of time and historical events, offering highly significant insights into the fields of paleontology, mineralogy, materials science, and geochemistry. However, ancient ivory has undergone groundwater corrosion and has a loose porous structure and reduced mechanical strength due to being buried for a long time. Therefore, the temporary reinforcement and preservation of ancient ivory artifacts are a well-known challenge. A methodology was presented in this article for the synthesis of calcium-based mineralized hydrogels (Ca-gel), which possess controllable adhesive strength, beneficial compatibility, environmentally friendly and noninvasive protection, as well as efficient and rapid adhesion for ancient ivory cultural relics. By manipulating the various components of Ca-gel, it was possible to achieve a controllable gel time and gel state. Additionally, the hydrogel possessing a substantial water content has the potential to establish a humid environment suitable for the preservation of ancient ivory, thereby overcoming the challenges associated with water loss and weathering that may arise during excavation processes. It is noteworthy that Ca-gel possessed universality and temporary adhesive properties that could be employed in the temporary reinforcement of cultural relics from different materials. A method has been proposed in this study to facilitate the temporary reinforcement process while ensuring the protection of authenticity, integrity, and continuity for cultural relics.