Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T14:55:15.901Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Use of Solvent-Gel Systems for the Cleaning of PMMA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2017

Stefani Kavda ,
Emma Richardson  and
Stavroula Golfomitsou
Stefani Kavda*
Affiliation:
UCL Qatar, University College London, Doha, Qatar
Emma Richardson
Affiliation:
Department of History of Art, University College London, London, UK
Stavroula Golfomitsou
Affiliation:
UCL Qatar, University College London, Doha, Qatar
*
*(Email: stefani.kavda.12@ucl.ac.uk)
Get access

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of solvent-gel systems for the cleaning of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces. Aqueous polymer gel systems have been introduced to the conservation field with a particular focus on paintings, painted surfaces of wooden artefacts and stone. However, their application on plastics is very recent. Statistically designed experiments aimed to assess the efficiency and damage potential of materials constituting selected solvent-gel cleaning systems. The effect of the free solvents (deionized water, ethanol, isopropanol and petroleum ether), the hydrogel carriers (Agar, Pemulen™ TR-2, Carbopol® EZ 2-Ethomeen® C-25 and 80% hydrolysed PVAc-borax) and their combinations after 5 and 60 minutes of application time on PMMA surfaces, were evaluated through qualitative visual microscopic observation and SEM imaging, and quantitative weight change measurements. Visual observations revealed that the action of solvents (i.e. ethanol and isopropanol) was moderated by gellation (i.e. Agar), while other gel systems (i.e. Pemulen) were unsatisfactory. Results of gravimetric studies showed that most solvent-gels resulted in inconsistencies and large weight changes.

Keywords

polymeramorphousart
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 2 , Issue 39-40: Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology XI , 2017 , pp. 2179 - 2187
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Pugliese, M., and Waentig, F., in Preservation of Plastic Artefacts in Museum Collections, edited by Lavédrine, B., Fournier, A., and Martin, G. (Editions du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques, Paris, 2012), p. 23.Google Scholar
Sale, D., in An evaluation of eleven adhesives for repairing poly (methyl methacrylate) objects and sculpture, edited by Grattan, D., (Saving the twentieth century: the conservation of modern materials: proceedings of a conference Symposium 91: Saving the Twentieth Century, Ottawa, Canada, 1993) pp. 325–340.Google Scholar
Waentig, F., Plastics in Art, (Michael Imhof Verlag, Petersberg, 2008) p. 272.Google Scholar
Simms, M., CAA Reviews, (2015).Google Scholar
Shashoua, Y., in Preservation of Plastic Artefacts in Museum Collections, edited by Lavédrine, B., Fournier, A., and Martin, G. (Editions du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques, Paris, 2012), pp. 219–223.Google Scholar
Dei, L., in Nanoscience for the Conservation of Works of Art, edited by Baglioni, P., and Chelazzi, D. (The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2013), p. 7.Google Scholar
Rivenc, R., Richardson, E., and Learner, T. in The LA Look from Start to Finish: Materials, Processes and Conservation of Works by the Finish Fetish Artists, edited by Bridgland, J., (ICOM-CC 16th triennial conference 19-23 September 2011: preprints, Lisbon, Portugal, 2011) p. 6.Google Scholar
Akhurst, S., in Plastics: looking at the future and learning from the past: papers from the conference held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: 23-25 May 2007, edited by Keneghan, B., and Egan, L. (Archetype Publications Ltd, London, 2008), p. 160–162.Google Scholar
Shashoua, Y., Conservation of Plastics: materials science, degradation and preservation, (Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2008).Google Scholar
Carretti, E., Bonini, M., Dei, L., Berrie, B.H., Angelova, L.V., Baglioni, P. and Weiss, R.G., Acc. Chem. Res. 43(6), 751–760 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolbers, R., Cleaning Painted Surfaces: Aqueous Methods, (Archetype Publications, London, 2000).Google Scholar
Cremonesi, P. in Rigid Gels and Enzyme Cleaning, edited by Mecklenburg, M.F., Charola, A.E., and Koestler, R.J., (New insights into the cleaning of paintings. Proceedings from the Cleaning 2010 International Conference, Washington, DC, 2013) pp. 179–183.Google Scholar
Stavroudis, C., and Blank, S., WAAC Newsletter 11(2), 2–10 (1989).Google Scholar
Stavroudis, C., WAAC Newsletter 34(2), 19 (2012).Google Scholar
Angelova, L.V., Ormsby, B.A., and Richardson, E., Microchem. J. 124, 311–320 (2016)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiles, D. M., in Changes in polymeric materials with time, edited by Grattan, D., (Saving the twentieth century: the conservation of modern materials: proceedings of a conference Symposium 91: Saving the Twentieth Century, Ottawa, Canada, 1993) pp. 105–112.Google Scholar
Wypych, G., Handbook of Material Weathering, (ChemTec Publishing, Toronto, 2013) p. 330.Google Scholar
Lister, T., and Renshaw, J., Conservation Chemistry- an introduction, (Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 2004) p. 19.Google Scholar
Choi, J. O., Moore, J. A., Corelli., J. C., Silverman, J. P. and Bakhru, H., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 6(6), 2286–2289 (1988).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çaykara, T. and Güven, O., Polym. Degrad. Stab. 65(2), 225–229 (1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar