This paper reports developments from collaboration between The Dow Chemical Company, Tate and the Getty Conservation Institute exploring improved cleaning systems for unvarnished modern painted surfaces. Artists' increased use of new paint and material types since the 1950s has created a need for new approaches to treatment as traditional wet and dry cleaning systems have been found to be unsuitable in many cases.<br/>This body of research has focused on the development of improved wet cleaning systems for artists’ acrylic emulsion paints. The present study describes four novel microemulsion systems based on water and mineral spirits, each formulated with different surfactants, either ionic or non-ionic. For this application- water-in-oil microemulsions were designed to capture the positive aspects of water-based cleaning systems (good pick-up and dispersion of soils; control over the conductivity and pH; use of adjuvants such as chelates, etc.) while limiting, to a degree, the risks associated with exposure to aqueous cleaners. These novel cleaning solutions have been found to be very effective at removing surface soiling on acrylic paintings and other water sensitive works of art. The question remains on what other changes are occurring at the paint surface. A range of spectroscopic techniques have been employed to characterize the uppermost paint surface for changes induced by aging and treatment with different cleaning solutions. TOF-SIMS and XPS results show that trace amounts of surfactant residues from cleaning formulations remain on paint surfaces in some cases. Amounts vary depending on the surfactant type (anionic vs. ionic), inherent surfactant solubility, in addition to the clearance steps undertaken.

Art & industry: Cleaning efficacy and residual studies for novel microemulsions tailored for acrylic dispersion paints and other unvarnished works of art

251st National Meeting (2016)

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