Freeze drying of wet fabrics. Good results of drying wet wood by means of sublimation of water from the deep freeze state encouraged to use it also for damp fabrics. This method is particularly suitable for endangered and poorly preserved objects. The advantage of the sublimation procedure is the possibility of avoiding shrinkage of the material, and thus changes in appearance, flexibility and weight of the monument, compared to its original form. The fabric found during archaeological excavations is usually so badly damaged, that it cannot bear its own weight. It must therefore be cleaned on a glass pane and placed in a water-based preservative after the fibers have been sorted out, np. containing in distilled water approx 5% highly polymerized or aqueous thickener (like starch), 1% wetting agent, 1% orthoboric acid and 1% borax as fungicides (Wake up H., 1986), A solution containing in water can also be used 8% PEG 400, 5% preparation Luviskoll K 30 (prod. Imhof i Stahl, Mannheim) for reinforcement and 1% orthoboric acid and 1 % borax for disinfection (Feldt Keller A., 1989) or 10-15%. PEG 400-600 solution with added fungicide. already after 3 days of bathing (no longer than 2 weeks) the solution is drained and the fabric is frozen at a temperature of at least -20°C, a po 20 hours and dried in a vacuum apparatus.
