EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO ASSESS ALTERNATIVE SUPPORTS FOR EXTENSIVELY DETERIORATED WOODEN ICONS

Abstract

Experimental and analytical studies were carried out on five different types of alternative supports from processed wood; plywood, pine block board, oak block board, medium density fibre (MDF) and chipboard. Color changes and emitted gases were measured by Kitagawa gas test tubes, Oddy test and Raman spectroscopy. Results proved that slight amounts of formaldehyde, ammonia and acetic acid were emitted from block board samples. Oak block board emitted higher amounts of formaldehyde compared to pine block board, but the emission of ammonia and acetic acid was relatively similar in both types of block board. A higher quantity of acetic acid and ammonia, and a small amount of formaldehyde were emitted from plywood. There was an increase in formaldehyde, ammonia and acetic acid gas emission in MDF and chipboard. FTIR analysis of wood components and color change measurements were conducted for further evaluation. In plywood a high decrease of lignin was noted, causing the wood to lighten in color. The rise of formaldehyde in oak block board, MDF and chipboard led to decrease in carbohydrates, causing darkening of wood color. Chemical composition and color change measurements were stable in the pine block board, proving it to be the most suitable alternative support.

Keywords

• alternative support
• voc
• oddy test
• kitawaga tubes
• ftir, raman spectroscopy