Evaluation of green solvents on removal of aged Epoxy from ancient glazed surface

Document Type : Original full papers (regular papers)

Author

Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum university.

Abstract

This Research explains on removal of aged epoxy layers from ancient glazed surface, as one of the big challenge faced conservators, Due to the deterioration caused by the traditional methods used by mechanical methods that cause scratches on the surface, or chemical methods using harmful solvents for both artifacts and conservators.
Epoxy was profusely used as assembling, consolidates and protection. Their removal is usually required as coatings can increase the weakness glazed surface, by the time unwanted substances may generate on the surface. So It’s become common in conservation but it is delicate process if not done correctly. The aim of this study was to evaluate of green solvents for removing aged epoxy polymers efficiently such as araldite 2020 from ancient glazed surfaces. This research compared two green solvents dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl lactate (EL). Microscopic and analytical protocols were established for the glazed surfaces with epoxy coating and cleaned samples to evaluate cleaning test effectiveness. Different microscopy techniques were used at started with digital Microscope (DM),and followed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Attenuated Total Reflection- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) identified matching of araldite which coated the surface in the applied study at Zaafran palace museum, Egypt. Dimethyl carbonate exhibited faster effective results compared to ethyl lactate on removal of both thick and thin aged epoxy with reducing the risk of chemical cleaning and mechanical methods especially Strong adhesion to the surface of the glazed artifacts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics