Coating Granite Monuments with Coconut Oil, As A Natural Technique for Preventive Protection of Sunken Granite, Alexandria - Egypt

Mohsen, Sarah Akram; Okapy, Mariam; Salah, Heba; Taha, Rawan; Osama, Ahmed; Reda, Abdullah; Aladdin, Muhannad; Hassan, Hager; Mahmoud, Hossam; Ahmed, Yasmin; Gelany, Ahmed

doi:10.21608/fsrt.2025.345049.1144

	Coating Granite Monuments with Coconut Oil, As A Natural Technique for Preventive Protection of Sunken Granite, Alexandria - Egypt
Frontiers in Scientific Research and Technology
Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2025 PDF (514.71 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/fsrt.2025.345049.1144
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Authors
Sarah Akram Mohsen ¹; Mariam Okapy²; Heba Salah²; Rawan Taha²; Ahmed Osama²; Abdullah Reda²; Muhannad Aladdin²; Hager Hassan²; Hossam Mahmoud²; Yasmin Ahmed²; Ahmed Gelany ³
¹Geology department, Faculty of science, Alexandria University, Egypt
²2. Restoration department, Aboukir High Institute for Restoration of Antiquities and Art Collections, Alexandria, Egypt
³-Restoration department, Aboukir High Institute for Restoration of Antiquities and Art Collections, Alexandria, Egypt -Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Al-Zaytoonaa International University, Syria
Abstract
Granite artifacts are among the most important historical monuments. Many artifacts have been discovered submerged, highlighting their incredible durability and aesthetic appeal. However, these artifacts face threats from underwater degradation factors, so effective preservation is crucial to protect these treasures from further damage. This study investigates the potential of coconut oil as a protective coating for granite artifacts submerged in marine environments. Coconut oil's antimicrobial properties make it a promising candidate for counteracting the effects of marine environment. Achieving the study’s objective requires simulating the actual conditions that submerged granite artifacts face. During the process, a comparison was made to evaluate this innovative natural technique. The compressive strength tests revealed a consistent improvement in peak strength and Young's modulus for coated samples, with increases of 6.21% and 4.3%, respectively. The coated granite samples demonstrated higher compressive strength (102.79 ± 0.59 MPa) compared to uncoated samples (96.78 ± 0.89 MPa), along with more consistent failure planes and enhanced crack resistance. X-ray diffraction analysis highlighted significant mineralogical differences between deteriorated and oil-coated samples. The oil treatment preserved structural integrity, reduced secondary mineral formation, and maintained better crystallinity, indicating effective protection against seawater-induced weathering. Scanning electron microscope observations further confirmed the protective capabilities of coconut oil, showing cohesive particle interactions in coated samples and significant wear and biological growth in uncoated samples. Overall, the results suggest that coconut oil treatment creates an effective barrier against water penetration and ion exchange, preventing weathering processes and offering substantial protection for granite structures in marine environments.
Keywords
Granite artifacts; coconut oil; conservation; Sunken artifacts; compressive strength


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