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Nanotechnologies in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage pp 61–82Cite as

Cleaning of Wall Paintings and Stones

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Abstract

The surface of artifacts interacts with the environment, leading to aging and degradation. Soiling is one of the main factors that contribute to the alteration of artistic and historical surfaces, and is often associated with both chemical and mechanical degradation. The effects of these processes on porous inorganic substrates such as wall paintings and stone are usually strongly enhanced if organic coatings (e.g. acrylic and vinyl-based polymers), applied in previous restoration treatments, are present. In fact coatings alter the physico–chemical properties of the artifacts (e.g. water vapor permeability), enhancing the degradation processes promoted by salts and pollution agents, ultimately the detachment and loss of the painted layer. In the recent years innovative formulations based on nanostructured fluids have been developed and successfully used for the removal of both grime/dirt and detrimental synthetic or natural coatings. This chapter focuses on the formulation and application of surfactant-based complex fluids, such as microemulsions and micellar solutions, for the removal of dirt and coatings from the surface of monuments and wall-paintings. Due to the low content of organic solvents, these systems have a very low eco-toxicological impact as compared to pure solvents or solvent blends; moreover, the nanostructure of the cleaning fluids grants the effective and selective removal of undesired layers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Piero Baglioni, David Chelazzi & Rodorico Giorgi

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  1. Piero Baglioni
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  2. David Chelazzi
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  3. Rodorico Giorgi
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Correspondence to Piero Baglioni .

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Baglioni, P., Chelazzi, D., Giorgi, R. (2015). Cleaning of Wall Paintings and Stones. In: Nanotechnologies in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9303-2_3

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