Application assessment of α-Tocopherol in conservation of historical cotton fabrics against hydrothermal oxidation by using accelerated-aged samples

the importance of textile historical works is not hidden from anyone In the field of preservation and restoration of historical and cultural objects. due to the organic structure of cellulose, Historical cotton fabrics are exposed to spontaneous oxidation and the degradation process will not stop even in an isolated environment. Keeping such sensitive works in the unfavorable conditions of the museum warehouse has accelerated the destruction, and if methods can be found to reduce the rate of deterioration of cellulose, it will be helpfull to the conservators in the proper preservation of these works. In addition to the visual changes that indicate changes and chemical interactions in the structure of the cellulose polymer, the process of cellulose deterioration can also be traced by examining the physical and mechanical properties of cellulose. The topic of using antioxidants to protect materials from oxidation has been discussed in many industries such as textile, chemical, polymer, food and pharmaceutical industries, and researchers are investigating the effect of different materials in reducing the process of oxidation and decay of the goods of the mentioned industries. Considering the wide application of tocopherol (vitamin E) in the fields of textile, food polymer and medicine, in this research, it was tried to evaluate its suitability by examining the advantages and disadvantages of this antioxidant substance in the conservation of historical cotton fabrics. To reach such an aim, it is necessary to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the rate of cellulose oxidation over time and its destructive effects in cotton fabrics. The method of this research is based on comparative-analytic and the data has been gathered via relevant experiments such as ATR-FTIR, colorimetery,tensile strength and pH. the aged cotton textiles are treated by the different concentration of vitamin E, and they are examined before and after accelerated aging. The results indicate that the mentioned substance has no detrimental effect on cellulose and can be useable as an antioxidant in conservational processes of historical cotton fabrics.