Nanocomposite Xuan Paper Made from Ultralong Hydroxyapatite Nanowires and Cellulose Fibers and Its Anti-mildew Properties

Xuan paper is an indispensable carrier for Chinese calligraphy and painting works. It has won the reputation of the King of Paper because of its superior durability and anti-mildew performance. Xuan paper was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the United Nations in 2009. In this study, we developed a new type of nanocomposite Xuan paper made from ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires and cellulose fibers with excellent anti-mildew performance. The whiteness of the as-prepared nanocomposite Xuan paper with HAP weight ratio of 25% is 76.1%, which is higher than that of the commercial unprocessed Xuan paper (71.9%) or the commercial processed Xuan paper (70.3%). The nanocomposite Xuan paper has superior performance in inhibiting the growth of three kinds of moulds (Chaetomium globosum, Trichoderma viride (long branch) and Aspergillus niger) compared with the blank control and commercial Xuan paper. During the incubation process, the mildew grows on the surface of the traditional Xuan paper, however, no obvious growth of mildew is observed on the surface of the nanocomposite Xuan paper. It is expected that the nanocomposite Xuan paper is favorable for its long-term safe preservation and application in calligraphy and painting arts.

Automated summary

Xuan paper is known as the King of Paper in Chinese calligraphy and painting due to its superior durability and anti-mildew performance. A new type of nanocomposite Xuan paper has been developed in this study, with excellent whiteness and ability to inhibit mold growth. This innovative Xuan paper is expected to be beneficial for long-term preservation and application in the fields of calligraphy and painting arts.