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Atomic Oxygen Treatment and Its Effect on a Variety of Artist's Media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Sharon K.R. Miller
Affiliation:
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135–3191, U.S.A.
Bruce A. Banks
Affiliation:
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135–3191, U.S.A.
Deborah L. Waters
Affiliation:
QSS Corporation on Site at NASA Glenn Research Center
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Abstract

Atomic oxygen treatment has been investigated as an unconventional option for art restoration where conventional methods have not been effective. Exposure of surfaces to atomic oxygen was first performed to investigate the durability of materials in the low Earth orbit environment of space. The use of the ground based environmental simulation chambers, developed for atomic oxygen exposure testing, has been investigated in collaboration with conservators at a variety of institutions, as a method to clean the surfaces of works of art. The atomic oxygen treatment technique has been evaluated as a method to remove soot and char from the surface of oil paint (both varnished and unvarnished), watercolors, acrylic paint, and fabric as well as the removal of graffiti and other marks from surfaces which are too porous to lend themselves to conventional solvent removal techniques. This paper will discuss the treatment of these surfaces giving an example of each and a discussion of the treatment results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

REFERENCES

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