Scientific Assessment of the Preservation Treatments Conducted on the U.S.S. Cairo and Devlopment of Preservation Alternatives: Chemical Consolidation of Historic U.S.S. Cairo Gunboat
Hon DN and Taras MA. 1988. Scientific Assessment of the Preservation Treatments Conducted on the U.S.S. Cairo and Devlopment of Preservation Alternatives: Chemical Consolidation of Historic U.S.S. Cairo Gunboat. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. The park, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi (flanking the Mississippi River), also commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign which led up to the battle. This report concerns the U.S.S. Cairo. The objective of this work was to develop a scientific technique for preserving, improving, restoring, and maintaining historic U.S.S. Cairo gunboat properties. Six different types of polymer resins were selected to consolidate the deteriorated wood fabric of U.S.S. Cairo gunboat. The resins were phenol formaldehyde, resorsinol-phenol formaldehyde, epoxy, polyacrylic, polyurethane and wood rosin. With the exception of wood rosin, all polymer consolidants restored favorably the strength of wood fabric. Of these polymers used, only fabric impregnated with resorsinol-phenol—formaldehyde resin exhibited acceptable appearance, i.e, color and texture of wood; fabric treated with other resins displayed glossy surface which is not adequate for restoration and conservation purposes.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Hon, David; Taras, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 1988-01
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- SER , VICK
- Keywords
- epoxy, gunboat, ironclad, phenol formaldehyde, polyacrylic, polyurethane, preservation, resin, resorsinol-phenol formaldehyde, U.S.S. Cairo, wood rosin