Synthesis and characterization of interpenetrating network (IPN) based levan-polyacrylamide hydrogels and their application in conservation of cultural heritage

In this study, an IPN based enzymatic levan-polyacrylamide hydrogel (EL-PA) was developed and characterized for its structural, morphological, rheological properties and swelling kinetics to underline hydrogel properties and its potential use in paper conservation. The addition of levan also led to changes in the viscoelastic behavior of the hydrogels, with the complex viscosity of EL-PA samples showing pronounced dependence on shear rate. The swelling and the overall surface area of the hydrogels were increased with the addition of levan into the polymer network. Source associated structural differences were found to be negligible such that both microbially produced linear and enzymatically produced branched forms of levan performed equally well. Solvent loaded hydrogels were then applied on an artifact, a 19th century book of Namık Kemal, and investigated using FTIR, SEM, XRD and colorimetric analysis. Old adhesive layers were successfully removed, and hydrogels showed good compatibility and ease of application. This study has shown that levan has improved hydrogel properties and levan based systems bear high potential in conservation science.