It has been three years since the complete, multi-million-dollar restoration of Pasaquan (Buena Vista, GA, USA). Since then, there have been a number of dramatic changes in the painted images on the outdoor structures, walls, and sculptural forms. The paint appears to be fading over time. In February 2018, Parma Conservation, the conservation group that painted and prepared the paint for the Pasaquan restoration, submitted an initial report regarding the paint changes. The Parma Conservation report was inconclusive, and the solutions that were recommended were executed but did not garner positive results. It was suspected that the harsh conditions and environmental factors, such as sunlight, rain, and heat, contributed to the cause of these exterior refrescos not maintaining its longevity.  Researchers at Columbus State University (Columbus, GA) executed a thorough chemical analysis of the paint at Pasaquan to obtain a more definitive understanding of the chemistry at the site. Through designed experiments, conclusive evidence was gathered indicating where and what exactly is happening to the paint at Pasaquan. A vast range of chemical analysis was conducted for this research, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry in the scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), Mass Spectrometry (MS), and Elemental Analysis (EA), to provide complete insight into the issues on the surface of Pasaquan. These tests helped determine if the atmospheric conditions are causing some of the pigments to oxidize and if the pigments are actually not binding with the binder. The amount of pigment, binder, and dispersion water were examined, in order to determine a mixture that withstands these environmental conditions to a greater extent than the currently used mixture. The aim is to help Pasaquan understand why the paints used are not being maintained and to propose a solution for conservation.

Chemical investigations of pasaquan and interdisciplinary paint restoration

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.