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Nondestructive Characterization and Enzyme Cleaning of Painted Surfaces: Assessment from the Macro to Nano Level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2013

Catarina Pereira ,
Tito Busani ,
Luis C. Branco ,
Ineke Joosten  and
Irina Crina Anca Sandu
Catarina Pereira
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation and Restoration (DCR), Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), Nova University of Lisbon (UNL), Campus Monte de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Tito Busani*
Affiliation:
CENIMAT/I3N, Department of Material Science, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), Nova University of Lisbon (UNL), and CEMOP-UNINOVA, Campus Monte de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Luis C. Branco
Affiliation:
REQUIMTE, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), Nova University of Lisbon (UNL), Campus Monte de Caparica, 29289-516 Caparica, Portugal
Ineke Joosten
Affiliation:
Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Hobbemastraat 22, 1071 ZC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Irina Crina Anca Sandu*
Affiliation:
REQUIMTE, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), Nova University of Lisbon (UNL), Campus Monte de Caparica, 29289-516 Caparica, Portugal
*
**Corresponding author. E-mail: busanit@fct.unl.pt
*Corresponding author. E-mail: irina.sandu@fct.unl.pt
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Abstract

This work establishes a multiscale and multitechnique nondestructive approach as valid methodology for monitoring surface properties and evaluating the effectiveness of enzymatic removal of varnishes from paintings/polychrome artefacts.

Mock-up samples (documented reconstructions of oil, tempera, and gilded layers on canvas and wooden supports) were covered with different proteinaceous varnishes (egg white, animal and fish glue, casein) and then characterized before and after the removal of these coatings with enzyme-based solutions. The varnish was cleaned in several steps (two dry swabs and two wet swabs) with a clearance step for removing the residues from proteinaceous varnish or from enzyme solution.

Microscopy [stereomicroscopy (SM), optical microscopy (OM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)] and colorimetric (CIE L*a*b* system) techniques were used for characterization of the reconstruction surfaces at different scales (macro-scale by SM and OM; micro-scale by SEM and nano-scale by AFM). These techniques were also used to monitor the cleaning treatment.

Although results presented in this work were obtained for the specific treatment of enzyme removal, the methodology could be extended to other types of materials and cleaning. Further experiments on real works of art are needed for a complete validation of the methodology.

Keywords

multiscalenondestructive methodologypaint surfacecleaning effectivenessAFMproteinaceous varnish
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2013 , pp. 1632 - 1644
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2013 

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