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Abstract
Numerous tremolite jade artifacts from archaeological sites exhibit powdering damage, necessitating immediate consolidation. However, research on jade consolidants remains limited. Siloxane is a promising material, yet its effectiveness is hindered by high levels of non-silicate components, such as calcium and magnesium, in tremolite. In this study, mercapto-functionalized siloxane sols with varying mercapto group contents were synthesized via sol–gel chemistry using (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTS), (3-aminopropyl) dimethoxymethylsilane (APDMOS), and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). Their consolidation effects on tremolite jade were evaluated. Results showed that mercapto-functionalized siloxane exhibited stronger performance than non-functionalized siloxane. This improvement stems from its dual functionality: alkoxy groups undergo hydrolysis and polycondensation to form highly polymerized xerogels that fill microvoids, while thiol groups (–SH) coordinate with calcium and magnesium ions in tremolite, acting as a functional “glue” to bind particles. Mercapto-functionalization thus offers a promising strategy to optimize jade consolidation and improve compatibility with non-silicate substrates.