The naturally dissolving hydrogel may help preserve delicate ancient artifacts.
The ocean is an unforgiving environment for any shipwreck, but sunken wooden vessels are particularly susceptible to saltwater's corrosive effects and high bacterial content. The dangers of deterioration don't end when the archeological remains are recovered, either: preservation methods such as freeze- or replacement-drying can make artifacts more brittle, warp their overall shape, and take months to complete. But a new hydrogel developed by researchers in China may offer a much safer option for eradicating harmful microbes and acids in waterlogged shipwreck wood. The novel material, detailed in a study published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, is the result of a collaboration between multiple Chinese institutions, including Sun-Yat Sen University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Experts already use certain hydrogels in similar artifact recovery projects, but they must peel the coating away after it infuses the wood with curing compounds—a potentially damaging…