Innovative Methods for Paper Conservation and Preservation
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 16
Special Issue Editors
Interests: polychrome works of art; paper conservation; cleaning; organic materials; pigments; diagnostic analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: cultural heritage materials; paper conservation; spectroscopic characterization; heterogeneous photocatalysis; organic and inorganic pollutant adsorption; environmental chemistry; nanomaterials; crystalline nanocellulose
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: paper conservation; functional nanostructured materials; material characterization; photocatalysis; wastewater remediation; structural and solid-state characterization; cellulose nanocrystals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Paper is the most common medium for drawings, paintings and recording information. Due to their intrinsic instability, some paper types deteriorate rapidly, thus compromising their valuable information content. A large number of documents, manuscripts, books and works of art on paper, becoming brittle and unusable, are at risk of imminent destruction.
The conservation and preservation of paper are among the most challenging activities in the field of cultural heritage. The difficulties arise from the mechanical weakness of the support, which is mainly made of cellulose. Due to their organic nature, paper and works on paper are subject to various forms of deterioration due to physical, chemical and biological agents, such as UV radiation, humidity, fire, insects and microorganisms. To improve their resistance to biotic attack, dimensional stability, hardness and resistance to UV rays, numerous treatments have been attempted and a wide variety of compounds have been tested, which are often harmful to the environment and to operators.
The conservation of cultural heritage presents complex challenges that require innovative solutions to prevent deterioration and extend the lifespan of priceless historical artifacts. Advances in materials science are revolutionizing the field of conservation and the restoration of cultural heritage, offering new techniques and materials that improve its protection, stability and aesthetic integrity. In this regard, this Special Issue prioritizes innovative and interdisciplinary challenges in the development of new, harmless, environmentally friendly and durable treatments for the protection and consolidation of cultural heritage in paper material, a fundamental historical and identity testimony of a population.
Prof. Antonella Casoli
Dr. Laura Bergamonti
Dr. Claudia Graiff
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- paper conservation
- innovative methods
- biodeterioration
- aging
- UV stability
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