Neutron Tomography of Archaeological Waterlogged Wood

Abstract

When waterlogged wood is found, the main challenge for the curator is to dry the wood without deteriorating the object. It is often done by impregnating the wood with PEG (polyethylene glycol) followed by freeze-drying. The present work investigates the possibility of using neutron tomography to visualize the PEG in archaeological waterlogged wood after the conservation treatment. 18 samples of waterlogged alder, with dimensions of 2 cm x 1.5 cm x 7 cm, impregnated by PEG 1500 with different duration of impregnation have been used. If the PEG cannot be distinctly separated from the wood, its spatial distribution can still be visualized, but not quantified. Furthermore, owing to the large attenuation difference between the wood and the air, neutron tomography can be used effectively to study the location and the amount of cracks and thus the efficiency of the conservation treatment.