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Novak M, Ormsby B. Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Paints: A Literature Review of Material Properties, Ageing Characteristics, and Conservation Challenges. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4348. [PMID: 38006073 PMCID: PMC10675057 DOI: 10.3390/polym15224348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since their development in the 1950s, poly(vinyl acetate) [PVAc] paints (also known as vinyl) have been used by many artists, most notably in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom; they are also used globally as a common binder for house paints. However, only a relatively limited number of heritage scientific studies have focused on vinyl paints. Consequently, many critical aspects of this material, such as the degradation processes, variations in paint formulations, and responses to conservation treatments, remain largely understudied. This article aims to summarise the available relevant information on poly(vinyl acetate) paints from both the scientific and the conservation practice perspectives. The article provides a brief overview of the development of poly(vinyl acetate) paints as artist-grade and household products and the known differences in their formulations. It also focuses on poly(vinyl acetate) ageing behaviour, the physicochemical properties, the recent scientific research on poly(vinyl acetate) material characterisation and degradation, and the main conservation issues regarding these paints, such as those relating to cleaning treatments.
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Costantini R, Nodari L, La Nasa J, Modugno F, Bonasera L, Rago S, Zoleo A, Legnaioli S, Tomasin P. Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15092111. [PMID: 37177259 PMCID: PMC10181275 DOI: 10.3390/polym15092111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made between the 1960s and 1970s during the Italian Arte Viva movement. The main components in the foam and additives were characterized through micro attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (μ-ATR-FTIR) and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Painted samples were further investigated through μ-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to define binders and pigments. The use of μ-ATR-FTIR in combination with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) allowed the variable conditions of the artworks to be assessed and attained some insights into the chemical processes responsible for aging. At the same time, morphological changes due to the degradation phenomena were recorded through optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed characterization of the PUR foam and painting materials was helpful in attaining some insights into harmful environmental parameters for the artworks, thus informing preventive conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Costantini
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Nodari
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Jacopo La Nasa
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Modugno
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Bonasera
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Rago
- Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music, University of Padova, Piazza Capitaniato 7, 35139 Padova, Italy
| | - Alfonso Zoleo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Legnaioli
- Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, National Research Council, (ICCOM-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Tomasin
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
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Micro-Raman, XRD and THM-Py-GC/MS analysis to characterize the materials used in the Eleven-Faced Guanyin of the Du Le Temple of the Liao Dynasty, China. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Surface and Interface Investigation of a 15th Century Wall Painting Using Multispectral Imaging and Pulse-Compression Infrared Thermography. COATINGS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings11050546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Before starting the restoration of an artwork, good practice involves the evaluation of the item healthiness possibly carried out through non-invasive techniques. In the specific case of painting inspection, hyper- and multi- spectral techniques are commonly used to analyze the outer layers (varnish, pictorial, and drawing), while X-ray, tomography, and many others can be employed to investigate its inner structure. Although highly desirable, a single technique providing all the information about a painting is still not available. Thus, it is of great interest to define the analysis’ protocols that could optimally exploit the complementarities of a minimal set of techniques. To this aim, the present paper shows the combined use of the hypercolorimetric multispectral imaging and pulse-compression thermography on a 15th century wall painting attributed to the Italian artist Antonio del Massaro, also known as Pastura, representing the Madonna with the Child and the Saints Jerome and Francis. The capabilities and the complementarities of the two techniques, whose information can also be fused through post-processing, are illustrated in detail in this paper. In addition, a false-colour imaging approach is proposed to improve the readability and analysis of the thermography results.
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