Synthesis and Use of Cellulose/SBA-15 Adsorbent Sheet for Cleaning Polychrome Surfaces on Works of Art

Abstract

Paraloid B72™ acrylic varnish has been used in the conservation of cultural properties since 1950’s. With a Tg close to 40 oC, some substances can be adsorbed onto varnished surfaces. There are several methods for cleaning works of art, each with its own specificities. This article presents a new alternative method. The cellulose/SBA-15 adsorbent sheets act as containers for the cleaning material, allowing it to act on the surface of the pictorial layer, dissolving and adsorbing unwanted material from the painting, without causing problems such as penetration, paint abrasion, residues, etc. They were tested on original paintings and on a mimetic. The raw materials, artwork, mimetic, and adsorbent sheets, before and after application, were characterized by TG/DTG and DTA; FTIR; XRF; surface digital microscopy and stereoscopy. FTIR characterized the raw materials and adsorbent sheets. The thermal behavior of the raw materials and adsorbent sheets, before and after application, were evaluated by TG/DTG and DTA. The evaluation of the works, the mimetic and the adsorption sheets, before and after application, by XRF showed that there was no damage to the originals and the mimetic. The cellulose sheet/SBA-15 as an adsorbent for B72™ in cleaning works of art, using solvent, proved to be effective

Keywords

• artwork restoration
• adsorbent
• ordered mesoporous silica
• cellulose/sbae-15 sheet
• conservation science