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This study aims to focus on the main materials used in consolidation processes of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather binding.

For each material, chemical structure, chemical composition, molecular formula, solubility, advantages, disadvantages and its role in treatment process are presented.

This study concluded that carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, nanocrystalline cellulose, funori, sturgeon glue, poly vinyl alcohol, chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles (NPs), gelatin, aquazol, paraloid B72 and hydroxyapatite NPs were the most common and important materials used for the consolidation of illuminated paper manuscripts. For the leather bindings, hydroxy propyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, oligomeric melamine-formaldehyde resin, acrylic wax SC6000, pliantex, paraloid B67 and B72, silicone oil and collagen NPs are the most consolidants used.

Illuminated paper manuscripts with leather binding are considered one of the most important objects in libraries, museums and storehouses. The uncontrolled conditions and other deterioration factors inside the libraries and storehouses lead to degradation of these artifacts. The brittleness, fragility and weakness are considered the most common deterioration aspects of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather binding. Therefore, the consolidation process became vital and important to solve this problem. This study presents the main materials used for consolidation process of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather bindings.

This paper aims to present the components' characterization and condition assessment of an important deteriorated Mamluk-illuminated paper manuscript housed in Al-Azhar Library, Egypt.

Different analytical techniques used in this study were the portable digital optical microscope, stereomicroscope, scanning electron microscope with EDX (SEM.EDX), portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), pH measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

The results obtained by different microscopes showed that the gilding in the surface of illuminated paper sheets was performed with gold leaves. Additionally, these microscopes revealed that the illuminated paper manuscript has different aspects of deterioration such as adhered dirt, staining, some micro-cracks, cracks and detachment of some parts in some illuminated areas. The results of elemental analysis by EDX, portable XRF and XRD analysis showed that the orange red pigment is red lead (Pb₃O₄), blue pigment is azurite (2CuCo₃.Cu (OH)₂), and the gold layer is has consisted of brass alloy (Cu-Zn) with a small amount of gold element (Au). The pH measurement stated that the historical paper in the acidity level. The ATR-FTIR analysis also revealed the oxidation of cellulose. Moreover, it was found from ATR-FTIR that Arabic gum was used as a binder for the pigments.

This study presents the important results of analytical methods used for condition assessment and identification of the components of an important Mamluk-illuminated paper manuscript, where these results referred that the studied paper manuscript had different aspects of deterioration. The conservation steps either conservation treatment or preventive conservation are urgently needed in future studies.

Paper aims to determinate caking paper manuscript cause through studying of the manuscript components, bio-deterioration and physio-chemical deterioration factor. It will facilitate manuscripts and paper conservators to understand paper blocking and caking phenomenon.

The manuscript condition has been diagnosed by focusing on adhesion and fossilization regions. To achieve this, some methods of analysis and examination were used, such as visual examination, digital microscopy and scanning electron microscope were used to studying surface changes. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared microscopy were used to determinate of cellulose crystallinity, ink composition and identify the binding medium.

The results revealed the use of cotton pulp, and calcium carbonate was among the fillers that were used to improve the properties of paper. The crystallization of cellulose was lower in the first and last papers than the papers located in the heart of the manuscript. The most important reasons that led to the papers caking was the presence of fungi A. niger, Cladosporium sp, Chaetomium sp, by secreting some enzymes in combination with some other factors such as difference variation in temperature and moisture.

All deterioration factors participate with each other until rule the damage circle of the papers because one factor alone cannot stick the papers. It was inferred from the examinations and analyzes that were conducted for the samples.