ISSN: 2067-533X INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSERVATION SCIENCE Volume 12, Issue 4, October-December 2021: 1231-1248 www.ijcs.ro CONSOLIDATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIMESTONE AND IMPROVING ITS CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Mohamed HASSANE 1,2 * , Hussein M. ALI 1 , Tarek NAZEL 3 1 Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Conservation, Minia University, Minia, Egypt 2 St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture, Palace Embankment, St. Petersburg, Russia 3 Postgraduate Institute of Papyrus, Inscriptions and Conservation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Abstract Limestone is the basic building material that has been used extensively in building many ancient temples and monumental buildings and which are exposed on a daily basis to many different factors of damage and different environmental conditions that make them subject to a large degree of deterioration and damage such as different weather conditions such as changes in temperature Relative humidity, pollution, sub-surface water, rain, snow, vibrations, biological impact and other factors of damage. Therefore, it is necessary to see many scientific research studies of the important properties of stones, both physical and mechanical properties, and research. The modern chemicals that work to strengthen and improve the properties of the stone in order to help the restorer in diagnosing the case of infection and choosing the best and most appropriate treatment methods. Keywords: Consolidation; Conservation; Physical and mechanical properties; Water absorption; Compressive strength Introduction Archaeological limestone samples were selected for this study: from El-Ashmunein archaeological area, Minia, Egypt., which contains many temples and stone archaeological buildings that suffer from weakness, damage and deterioration, so the main interests in the study are the possibility of characterizing a specific resin through it under the scanning microscope (SEM), and visualization Resin attaches to gravel, penetration and the possibility of correlating this type of data with aging and specific resin performance. Stones were treated with methyl (MTMOS), Paraloid B 72 and Klucel G, and mechanical and physical properties of the stone samples were measured to reveal the best chemicals used to strengthen the stone samples [1]. The limestone used in historical architectural buildings and stone statues is a guide to the civilization and culture of the past, and it is one of the civilizational and cultural heritage of peoples that must be preserved and protected from the factors of deterioration, deterioration, and weathering factors in order to remain stable and lofty for future generations as a cultural and civilizational heritage [2, 3]. Therefore, it was necessary for the whole world and those specialized in protecting cultural heritage, restoration, and maintenance of antiquities to be concerned with the constant search for the most important chemicals used in treating and strengthening stones and * Corresponding author mohamed.hassaan@mu.edu.eg