Various acrylic consolidants with added UVlight stabiliser systems were tested: Ciba Tinuvin B75, a liquid light stabiliser system consisting of a synergistic blend of Ciba Irganox 1135, Tinuvin 571 and Tinuvin 765, soluble in organic solvents; Ciba Tinuvin 770, a low molecular weight hindered amine light stabiliser, soluble in organic solvents and methanol; Ciba Chimassorb 2020, a hindered amine stabiliser soluble in organic solvents; ethanol/water (95/5) and isopropanol. The applicability of the consolidating agents on the polypropylene fibres was tested using a nebuliser and an airbrush system.
Nebuliser
An air pressure nebuliser (Inhalations-set VE 125, Medisize) developed for medical treatment allowing the size of the droplets to be regulated at about 10 micrometre was used (van Oosten et al.). The nebuliser is placed very close to the PP surface with a pressure of around 2.5–3.
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Airbrush
An airbrush, a compressed air tool that dispenses a fine mist of consolidant, was used. For both application techniques, the advised air pressure of about 2 bars was provided by an air compressor (Whispair, CW 50/24 AL) (Pataki et al. 2003). The airbrush was used at the distance of around 20 cm with pressure of 2.5 bars. The small screw that sets the entering of the air pressure has to be turned (1 turn) clockwise.
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Testing consolidants on ropes
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References
- van Oosten, T.B. et al. The Conservation of Polyurethane Foam Artworks. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
- Pataki, A., Banik, G. and Meyer, R. (2003) ‘Aerosols in the field of paper conservation’, Instituut Collectie Nederland Workshop, 25–27 November 2003, Amsterdam.