Susan Braovac

• Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2018). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.),  Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016.  International Council of Museums, ICOM.  ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8.  -.  s 176 - 183
• Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Sahlstedt, Malin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Lucejko, Jeannette J. & Klokkernes, Torunn (2018). Navigating conservation strategies: linking material research on alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection to conservation decisions. Heritage Science.  ISSN 2050-7445.  6, s 77 . doi: 10.1186/s40494-018-0241-y
• Dionisi-Vici, P; Braovac, Susan; Hauer, David & Jensen, Maria Malherbes (2018). Measuring stress levels of archaeological samples from the Oseberg ship under fluctuating relative humidity - preliminary results, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.),  Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016.  International Council of Museums, ICOM.  ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8.  -.  s 333 - 337
• Emanuelsson, Emma & Braovac, Susan (2018). Re-conservation of glycerol-conserved ropes from the Viking Age Oseberg ship, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.),  Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016.  International Council of Museums, ICOM.  ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8.  -.  s 379 - 382
• Lucejko, Jeannette J.; La Nasa, Jacopo; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Colombini, Maria Perla & Modugno, Francesca (2018). Protective effect of linseed oil varnish on archaeological wood treated with alum. Microchemical journal (Print).  ISSN 0026-265X.  139, s 50- 61 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2018.02.011
• McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Benneche, Tore (2018). Consolidation of waterlogged wood with lignin-like oligomers, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.),  Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016.  International Council of Museums, ICOM.  ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8.  -.  s 184 - 192
• McQueen, Caitlin; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Narygina, Olga & Braovac, Susan (2018). Temperature- and humidity-induced changes in alum-treated wood: a qualitative X-ray diffraction study. Heritage Science.  ISSN 2050-7445.  6, s 66 . doi: 10.1186/s40494-018-0232-z
• McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2018). Identification of inorganic compounds in composite alum-treated wooden artefacts from the Oseberg collection. Scientific Reports.  ISSN 2045-2322.  8 . doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21314-z
• McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2018). Identification of metal compounds in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.),  Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016.  International Council of Museums, ICOM.  ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8.  Article.  s 162 - 168
• Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Baglioni, Piero & Braovac, Susan (2017). Hybrid nanocomposites made of diol-modified silanes and nanostructured calcium hydroxide. Applications to Alum-treated wood. Pure and Applied Chemistry.  ISSN 0033-4545. . doi: /10.1515/pac-2016-1014
• McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego; Łucejko, Jeannette Jacqueline; Braovac, Susan; Gambineri, Francesca; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria Perla & Kutzke, Hartmut (2017). New insights into the degradation processes and influence of the conservation treatment in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection. Microchemical journal (Print).  ISSN 0026-265X.  132, s 119- 129 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2017.01.010
• Andriulo, Fabrizio; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Giorgi, Rodorico & Baglioni, Piero (2016). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood. Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing.  ISSN 0947-8396.  122(4) . doi: 10.1007/s00339-016-9833-0
• Braovac, Susan; Tamburini, Diego; Łucejko, Jeannette Jacqueline; McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria Perla (2016). Chemical analyses of extremely degraded wood using analytical pyrolysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Microchemical journal (Print).  ISSN 0026-265X.  124, s 368- 379 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2015.09.016
• McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Gillis, Richard B; Adams, Gary; Harding, Stephen E; Benneche, Tore & Kutzke, Hartmut (2016). Synthesis and characterisation of lignin-like oligomers as a bio-inspired consolidant for waterlogged archaeological wood. Pure and Applied Chemistry.  ISSN 0033-4545.  88(10-11), s 969- 977 . doi: 10.1515/pac-2016-0814 Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  The development of new materials for the consolidation of waterlogged archaeological wood from sustainable sources is an important area of research, as the most widely used consolidant today is petroleum based. Ideally a new consolidant will interact with the existing wood structure, ensuring maximum compatibility. Lignin is often the major component remaining in archaeological wood, as it is less susceptible to degradation than holocellulose. Therefore, in order to maximise the potential for interaction with the wood cells, lignin-like oligomers have been synthesized from isoeugenol using a water soluble copper salen catalyst at pH 10, giving a weight average Mw of 1.6 kDa. Analysis by NMR spectroscopy has shown that the oligomers have a lignin-like structure with β-O-4′, β-β′ and β-5′ connections. A 10 w/w% solution of the oligomers in ethyl acetate was found to thoroughly penetrate 1 cm3 samples of waterlogged archaeological wood (density of 0.146 g/mL, maximum water content of 620%) after 14 days impregnation, as determined by FTIR spectroscopy. No impregnation material could be seen by SEM, suggesting that it coats the cell walls upon drying. This indicates that dehydrogenated polymers penetrate waterlogged archaeological wood well and have the potential to be developed into consolidants.

• Bader, Thomas; de Borst, Karin; Fackler, Karin; Ters, Thomas & Braovac, Susan (2013). A nano to macroscale study on structure-mechanics relationships of archaeological oak. Journal of Cultural Heritage.  ISSN 1296-2074.  14(5), s 377- 388 . doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2012.09.007
• Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2013). Conservation of archaeological wood: the Oseberg find, In John Rennie; Jonathan Weil; David Blumel; Stefan Malmoli & Hilary Maybaum (ed.),  Yearbook of Science and Technology 2013.  McGraw-Hill.  ISBN 978-0-071801-40-9.  artikkel.  s 89 - 92
• Braovac, Susan; Hjulstad, Guro & Storbekk, Elin Christine (2012). Decisions about moving collections – where do conservators fit in? How can we contribute?, In Ida Antonia Tank Bronken; Susan Braovac; Tone Marie Olstad & Anne Apalnes Ørnhøi (ed.),  Moving Collections. Processes and Consequences.  Archetype Publications Ltd..  ISBN 978-1-904982-84-5.  artikkel.  s 175 - 184
• Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2012). The presence of sulfuric acid in alum-conserved wood – origin and consequences. Journal of Cultural Heritage.  ISSN 1296-2074.  13(3), s 203- 208 . doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2012.02.002
• Braovac, Susan (2002). Samlingene på Vikingskipshuset: tilstand og vurdering. Skrifter / Universitetet i Oslos kulturhistoriske museer.  ISSN 1503-0792.  1, s 31- 40

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• Bronken, Ida Antonia Tank; Braovac, Susan; Olstad, Tone Marie & Ørnhøi, Anne Apalnes (red.) (2012). Moving Collections. Processes and Consequences. Archetype Publications Ltd..  ISBN 978-1-904982-84-5.  220 s.
• Braovac, Susan; Bader, Thomas; Fackler, Karin & Hofstetter, Karin (2011). Stiffness properties of the archaeological oak wood from the Oseberg ship. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.  ISBN 9783816785606.  310 s.
• Braovac, Susan; Fackler, Karin; Ters, Thomas & Bader, Thomas (2011). Chemical composition of the archaeological oak wood from the Oseberg ship. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.  ISBN 9783816785606.  310 s.

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• Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Modugno, F & Colombini, Maria Perla (2018). The catalysing effect of alum in degradation processes of carbohydrates in archaeological wood.
• McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2017). FTIR microscopy for analysis of treated archaeological wood samples.
• Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Baglioni, Piero (2016). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood.
• Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Andriulo, Fabrizio; McHale, Emily & Steindal, Calin Constantin (2016). The Saving Oseberg Project – Chemistry for the salvation of Viking Age wooden artefacts.
• McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Benneche, Tore (2016). Consolidation of waterlogged archaeological wood with lignin-like oligomers.
• McHale, Emily; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Braovac, Susan; Gillis, Richard; Adams, Gary; Benneche, Tore & Kutzke, Hartmut (2016). Synthesis and characterisation of lignin-like oligomers as a bio-inspired consolidant for waterlogged archaeological wood.
• McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2016). Identification of metal compounds in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection.
• Amberger, Maria Laura; Christensen, Mikkel; Hauer, David; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hjulstad, Guro; Helgeland, Kirsten Jensen; Teigen, Mårten; McHale, Emily; Steindal, Calin Constantin & Andriulo, Fabrizio (2015). Saving Oseberg Forskningsprosjekt.
• Hauer, David; Andriulo, Fabrizio; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Rustad Carlsen, Marianne (2015, 19. november). Håper at vikingskattene kan reddes. [TV].  NRK Dagsrevuen.
• McHale, Emily; McQueen, Caitlin; Christensen, Mikkel; Braovac, Susan; Næss, Ellen Marie & Hauer, David (2015). Barnesøndag: Oseberglaboratoriet (Family day: The Oseberg Laboratory).
• McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2015). Metal ions in archaeological wood from the Oseberg find – a complex issue?.
• Tamburini, Diego; Braovac, Susan; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria Perla (2015). Chemical analysis of degraded wood by Py-GC/MS and ICP-AES.
• Tamburini, Diego; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria P.; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Mortensen, Martin; Chaumat, Gilles & Gambineri, Francesca (2015). PY-GC-MS with in situ silylation to the analysis of treated composite archaeological wood artifacts - the ArCo project.
• Tamburini, Diego; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria Perla; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Mortensen, Martin; Chaumat, Gilles & Gambineri, Francesca (2015). The ArCo Project - Ageing Studies of Treated Composite Archaeological Waterlogged Artefacts - preliminary results.
• McHale, Emily; Benneche, Tore; Kutzke, Hartmut; Christensen, Mikkel & Braovac, Susan (2014). Preservation of archaeological wood: a challenge for biomimetic materials.
• Braovac, Susan; Bill, Jan & Løchen, Ragnar (2013, 06. oktober). Åndenes Makt. [TV].  TVNorge.
• Braovac, Susan; Lucejko, Jeanette J.; Tamburini, Diego; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria P. (2013). Saving Oseberg - Research for Preservation. Analysis of Highly Deteriorated Archaeological Wooden Objects by Py (HMDS) - GC/MS.
• Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Jørgensen, Sissel; Bouzga, Aud Mjærum; Hansen, Eddy Walther & Arstad, Bjørnar (2012). ALUM-TREATED WOOD: CHARACTERIZATION USING INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND SOLID STATE NMR.
• Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Gjengedal, Kjerstin (2012, 10. februar). Nasjonalskatt går i oppløysing.  Apollon.
• Kutzke, Hartmut; Christensen, Mikkel & Braovac, Susan (2012). Hvor fortid og fremtid møtes - med forskerlupe i Osebergfunnet.
• Bisulca, Christina; Odegaard, Nancy; Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2011). Consolidation of Alum-Treated Wood with Alkoxysilanes.
• Braovac, Susan; Jensen, Maria; Aarseth, Bjarte Einar; Bill, Jan; Hjulstad, Guro; Løchen, Ragnar; Storbekk, Elin Christine; Dionisi Vici, Paolo & Allegretti, Ottaviano (2011). Long term responses in archaeological wood to ambient temperature and relative humidity – case study: the Oseberg Ship. Show summary

  INTRODUCTION The Oseberg ship, dated from ca 815-820 AD, is one of the most important discoveries of the Viking age period in Norway. The fact that the ship consists of 90 % original material makes it a unique find with no comparison elsewhere in the world. The ship is 21.5 meters long, built with radially cut, 3 cm thick oak planks and is 5 meters at its widest. In 1904 the waterlogged wood was conserved with linseed oil and creosote and the surface exterior was then lacquered. Over 2000 pieces were used for the reconstruction of the ship with the use of both original and modern screws together with adhesive. The Oseberg ship, displayed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, has been subjected to an uncontrolled climate since 1926, with only heating in winter. The display area is therefore influenced by seasonal changes in relative humidity (RH), which rises above values of 70% RH in summer, and drops below 30% RH in winter. Rapid changes over the course of a few hours have also been recorded. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Continuous monitoring of dimensional change due to RH fluctuations has been carried out on two planks of the ship and on two samples free to warp. To our knowledge, it is the first example of long term hygro-mechanical monitoring on an archaeological wooden artifact. Through this approach it is possible to show the specific sensitivity to RH fluctuations; restrained planks show the least response, while unrestrained samples have highest response to RH changes. The analysis of the data obtained after fifteen months of continuous logging allows us to quantify the specific “sensitivity” of the wood, which can be useful in determining the threshold of allowable RH fluctuations. The results of stress on the free samples in the exhibition site will be discussed. It is also planned to measure the forces absorbed by the restrained samples so that long-term mechanical effects of absorbed stress can be understood better. These data are fundamental as a validation of future Finite Element simulations and hygromechanical modelling of deteriorated wood.

• Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Jørgensen, Sissel; Bouzga, Aud Mjærum; Arstad, Bjørnar & Hansen, Eddy Walther (2011). Alum-treated wood: characterization using infrared spectroscopy and solid state 1h and 13C NMR. Show summary

  Abstract The Oseberg find contains a large proportion of hardwoods that had been treated about 100 years ago with hot solutions of alum salts (potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate, KAl(SO4)2 . 12H2O). Today, the wood is characterized by a high acidity (pH 1) and is structurally highly degraded. The observed deterioration is also active. The ‘alum treatment’ was a method of choice for the conservation of highly deteriorated waterlogged archaeological wood found from 1850 – 1950 and has since been replaced by treatment with polyethylene glycols (PEG). The alum treatment has been mainly used in Scandinavia but also in the USA, Japan and other European countries. Attempts to chemically characterize the alum-treated wood from the Oseberg find is one phase in the research currently being undertaken at the Museum of Cultural History as a part of the Alum Research Project. The ultimate aim of this project is to design conservation re-treatments which will stabilize and strengthen the wood. So far, we have focussed on non-destructive analytical techniques using ATR-FTIR and solid state NMR. Further chemical analyses are planned, using destructive techniques. Analyses using infrared spectroscopy and solid state 1H and 13C NMR were undertaken on selected alum-treated samples and compared with fresh woods as well as archaeological woods from the same find not treated with alum. The advantages of these analytical techniques lie in the fact that sample preparation is minimal prior to measurement – highly deteriorated wood can be greatly modified by standard sample preparation procedures. These techniques, when used together, give an acceptable level of qualitative structural information regarding the state of the remaining polymers. Analytical results demonstrated that all alum-treated samples are highly degraded relative to archaeological wood from the same find not treated with alum salts. The non-alum-treated archaeological wood has carbohydrates left, which are highly reduced in the alum-treated wood. 13C NMR can distinguish different lignin types, and has shown that syringyl lignin is more deteriorated than guaiacyl lignin in the most deteriorated alum-treated samples. NMR and FTIR-ATR results also show that remaining polymers in the alum-treated wood, dominated by lignins, are highly oxidized and contain carboxylic groups. This shows that the alum-treatment has caused extensive chemical changes in the wood, resulting in wood with a powdery consistency with almost no structural integrity relative to samples from Oseberg not treated with alum.

• Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Christensen, Mikkel (2011). Kunsten å bevare vikingkunst - ingen enkel kunst. Preserving the objects from Oseberg.
• Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Hansen, Finn Knut (2011). Old treatments – new solutions? Summary of activities of the Alum Research Group.
• Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Euler, Harald (2011). The behaviour of alum in alum-conserved wooden objects.
• Lehmann, Eberhard; Mannes, David; Hunger, K.; Wörle, Marie; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut & Christensen, Mikkel (2011). Wood investigations by means of radiation transmission techniques in the analysis of cultural heritage objects of different size scale.
• Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hartmann, Stefan; Mokso, Raimund & Lehmann, Eberhard (2010). Looking inside! 3D imaging experiments on alum-conserved archaeological wood.
• Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hartmann, Stefan; Mokso, Rajmund & Lehmann, Eberhard (2010). Looking inside! 3D imaging experiments on alum-conserved archaeological wood.
• Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2010). Past Conservation Treatments and their Consequences – the Oseberg Find as a case study.
• Christensen, Iben V.; Ottosen, Lisbeth M.; Jensen, Poul; Bojesen-Koefoed, Inger; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Sandstrøm, Tom (2010). The use of an electric field for the removal of alum from treated wooden objects.
• Dionisi Vici, Paolo; Aarseth, Bjarte Einar; Bill, Jan; Hjulstad, Guro; Jensen, Maria Malherbes; Løchen, Ragnar; Storbekk, Elin Christine; Uzielli, Luca & Braovac, Susan (2009). In-situ deformation measurements on a large wooden archaeological artefact: the Viking Age Oseberg ship.
• Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2009). The Presence of Sulfuric Acid in Alum-conserved Wood – Origin and Consequences.
• Christensen, Iben V.; Ottosen, Lisbeth M.; Jensen, Poul; Bojesen-Koefoed, Inger; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Sandstrøm, Tom & Christensen, Mikkel (2009). The use of an electric field for the removal of alum from treated wooden objects.
• Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Christensen, Mikkel (2009). Historische Konservierungsmethoden als neue Herausforderung fuer die Archaeometrie: Die alaunbehandelten Holzobjekte des Osebergfundes.
• Braovac, Susan (2008). History of the Viking ship collections and their conservation challenges.
• Braovac, Susan (2008). Rescuing the Oseberg Find, a Project in Progress. Alum-conserved Wood - Mechanisms of Deterioration and Development of Preservation Strategies.
• Braovac, Susan (2007). The Viking Ship finds: Preservation Challenges and the search for potential solutions.
• Braovac, Susan & Olstad, Tone Marie (2007). Braovac, Susan, Tone Olstad, How to Move a Viking Ship: two conservators’ perspectives on the process leading to a decision.
• Braovac, Susan; Huth, Nadine & Løchen, Ragnar (2006). Rescuing the Oseberg Find, a project in progress: Alum-conserved wood – mechanisms of deterioration and development of preservation strategies.
• Vedeler, Marianne & Braovac, Susan (2003). Nytt liv i gamle magasiner. Museumsnytt.  ISSN 0027-4186.  52(3)

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