Polyacrylic Acid-Functionalized Graphene@Ca(OH)2Nanocomposites for Mural Protection

Abstract

Murals are one of the precious legacies of our ancestors; however, they face severe damage along with archeological discoveries, which need urgent repair. Nowadays, nanotechnology provides new concepts and materials for the consolidation and protection of murals. In this work, an innovative method for the protection of murals was proposed with graphene-based nanomaterials through strategically synthesizing a polyacrylic acid-functionalized graphene/nano-Ca(OH)2 material (PAAG@Ca(OH)2) by a facile and economic aqueous method. As a result, the nanocomposite PAAG@Ca(OH)2 was demonstrated with high porosity, strong adsorption, appropriate hydrophilicity, and better permeability compared to the commercial AC33 sample according to the simulated tests. As expected, the nanocomposite PAAG@Ca(OH)2 displayed a promising application for the reinforcement of murals, which opens up a new avenue for the protection of murals.