Textiles fragile

The protocol was tested on prototypes that simulated expected properties of colored archaeological textiles. When applied to artifacts from Seip Mound, some adaptation was required. It was shown that useful information can be gleaned from particulate shed from these fragile materials as well as from strategically located samples. 

While it is often stated that few textiles survive from archaeological sites in eastern North America, some examples with preserved features have been uncovered. These materials have survived burial conditions because of the peculiarities of the burial context or due to some feature of their composition that made them less susceptible to microbial degradation. These preserved materials often are very fragile handling them results in the loss of small particulate material. Rather than discarding this particulate, collection and analysis may provide some clues to the content and condition of the artifact. 

As Indian hemp was charred for increasing periods of time, some loss of chemical structure was incurred (Figure 7). The sample charred for 30 minutes is white and fragile, while the 10 and 20 minute samples are still black and fibrous and appear more like the charred fibers observed in the archaeological textiles. It is obvious that the composition has been altered by exposure to heat. The cellulose is dehydrated with the 2900 cm-1 band reduced in each of the levels of charring. The 10 and 20 minute samples are similar to each other, but somewhat different from the uncharred Indian hemp. The 1630 cm-1 band in the uncharred fiber is shifted to 1582 cm-1 due to dehydration. The new bands in the region of 1450 cm-1 and 1200 cm-1 in the 30 minute sample are comparable to those noted by Ercin and Yurum (44). 

Paper in particular is a problem today much of it is still being made on the acid side from the use of alum rosin sizes, and this limits its life. There are 150 years of similar bad paper on the shelves. Librarians are the custodians of millions of books which are too brittle to use. Often there is nothing to be done but to cut the books apart, microfilm the information, and discard them. Textiles too have been subjected to the exigencies of rapid machine production and mishandled so that their permanence has dropped. The artifacts of our present civilization are fragile, and much of our cultural heritage is slipping silently away. 

In the past when I have had a textile too fragile to withstand a needle, I have pasted a very light silk lining to it, using Japanese rice paste, which is harmless and easily reversible. This method had the advantage of preserving a piece which was otherwise hopeless, but it... 

Many of the fabric structures from which these samples were taken have been described in other publications (1-3). In experimenting with appropriate methods for preparation of samples for elemental analysis, fibers are of limited value because they cannot be proven to belong to the textile object in the box. For experimental purposes, these fabrics served well as representative brittle, fragile, and minute fibrous samples for preparation and analysis. 

Two problems should be considered when conducting an investigation that incorporates mapping and sampling techniques. One problem is that the irreplaceable and fragile nature of the textile evidence demands nondestructive or minimally destructive procedures. Removal of enough microsized samples to provide a statistical sample would destroy much of the textile. Another consideration is that the cost of techniques such as as X-ray diffraction (XRD) or Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) would be prohibitive when applied to a large number of samples. Because of these constraints, chemical and physical data should be obtained from a limited number of locations. These areas can best be identified once a survey of the evidence has been conducted and technical fabrication analyses of evidence obtained from a random sample of locations have been performed. 

The CLEANING OF HISTORIC TEXTILES is largely done by conservators who have gained practical experience in handling these often fragile objects. The main purpose of cleaning historic textiles is to restore their original appearance as much as possible and to prevent possible deterioration that may be caused by the presence of soils. 

Fig. 1.8 Confocal Raman spectrum obtained from a heat-sealed composite silkZParaloid 726/ silk crepeline sample. In art-conservation polymers, such as polyCbutyl methacrylate) are used to consolidate fragile antique textiles. Here the lateral resolution of the technique has been combined with the confocal optics to decouple the spectrum of the adhesive from those of the other components.

When an object turns fragile because of its age and the consequent deterioration of the material, as is the case of textiles, papers and many objects from... 

Microporous or hydrophilic membranes are fragile and do not provide a cloth-like feel. They have to be incorporated into textile products so as to maximise the desired high-tech function without adversely affecting the classical textile properties of handle, drape, and visual impression. The fabrics produced will be two-, three-, or four-layered constructions with one of the layers being coated or laminated with the breathable membrane. 

The conductive fibers pUed and or twisted with a nonconductive fiber can also form conductive yams. E-textile yams (Slade, 2014) can be made by using insulated copper wires wrapped around a cotton/nylrai/polyester core yam that demonstrates electrical and mechanical properties. The cmiductive yams and fibers are replacing traditional heavy solid or twisted wires that are too fragile and break down after repeated bends. The conductive yams and fibers are rapidly becoming the smart choice for engineers... 

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