Evolon® CR Microfibre Cloth as a Tool for Varnish Removal

Vergeer, Michelle; Berg, Klaas Jan van den; Oudheusden, Saskia van; Stols-Witlox, Maartje

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19254-9_44

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Several researchers have already made seminal contributions to the improved understanding of Evolon CR's use in conservation practice. In 2019, Vergeer et al used ethanol mixed with a fluorescein isothiocyanate protein indicator dye to visualise solvent distribution in a paint film and found considerable variation depending on the method of application [16].…”

Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evolon CR is a specific type within the Evolon family that has been designated for use in conservation (C = Conservation, R = Restoration). Manufactured by Freudenberg and marketed by Deffner & Johann, it is a blend of 70% polyester and 30% polyamide fibers spun into segmented filaments, and features a specific density of 77.4 g/m 2 [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding and optimizing Evolon® CR for varnish removal from oil paintings

et al. 2021

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Evolon$$^\circledR$$ ® CR is increasingly used in paintings conservation for varnish removal from oil paintings. Its key benefits over traditional cotton swabs are limiting solvent exposure and reducing mechanical action on the paint surface. However, this non-woven microfilament textile was not originally engineered for conservation use and little is known about its chemical stability towards organic solvents. Moreover, the physical processes of solvent loading and release by Evolon$$^\circledR$$ ® CR, as well as solvent retention inside paint after cleaning, have not been studied. These three topics were investigated using a multi-analytical approach, aiming for an improved understanding and optimized use of Evolon$$^\circledR$$ ® CR for varnish removal. Our results show that the tissue is generally chemically and physically stable to organic solvents when exposed on timescales that are typical in conservation practice. However, a pre-treatment step of Evolon$$^\circledR$$ ® CR is necessary to avoid the release of unwanted saturated fatty acids into the paint during varnish removal. We show that the primary mechanism of solvent uptake by the fibers is adsorption rather than absorption and that the dominant factor dictating the maximum solvent load is the volume of the voids between the fibers. Finally, solvent induced dynamics after application of solvent-loaded Evolon$$^\circledR$$ ® CR within the paint film was monitored using portable laser speckle imaging on model paints. A method to quantify solvent-retention in real-time was developed and revealed that the presence of varnish on paintings results in lower dynamics of solvents within the paint in comparison to unvarnished paint. Comparing various solvents, it was found that cleaning with acetone resulted in a roughly six-fold increase in dynamics compared to ethanol and isopropanol.

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Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding and optimizing Evolon® CR for varnish removal from oil paintings

et al. 2021

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“…• The cotton swab, traditionally widely used for varnish removal • Evolon CR tissue, an alternative used for varnish removal and composed of a Nylon/polyethylene terephthalate fabric [10] • Nanorestore Max Dry rigid gel, can be used for varnish or surface dirt removal and composed of semi-interpenetrating polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (pHEMA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) networks [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solvent-mediated extraction of fatty acids in bilayer oil paint models: a comparative analysis of solvent application methods

et al. 2019

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The impact of solvent exposure on oil paintings and the differences between solvent application methods are longstanding topics in cleaning studies. Solvent exposure is ideally kept to a minimum, because solvent swelling can lead to the extraction and displacement of reactive paint components. In particular, important concerns are fatty acids displacement resulting in metal soap formation and embrittlement of paint due to solvent exposure. In this study, the extraction of a saturated fatty acid (SFA) marker and the formation of zinc soaps were monitored to measure the impact of solvent cleaning on tailored bilayer model systems for aged oil paint. Three methods of solvent application were compared: cotton swab, rigid gel and Evolon tissue (with different solvent loading). The samples were analysed by surface acoustic wave nebulization mass spectrometry (SAWN-MS) and thermally-assisted hydrolysis and methylation pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (THM-Py-GC/MS) by comparing the calculated margaric:palmitic acid ( C 17 :C 16 ) ratio determined in the extracts (taken from the swab, gel or Evolon tissue). We conclude that both swab cleaning and squeezed Evolon tissue application result in comparable SFA extraction. The rigid gel and Evolon with controlled solvent-loading limit the amount of SFA extraction. The distribution of C 17 after solvent application was visualised using static Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) on cross sections, showing that C 17 redistribution took place in all cases where solvent was applied. Crystalline zinc soaps formation was not observed after 5 min of ethanol exposure in the embedded cross-sections with imaging ATR-FTIR, indicating that solvent exposure does not immediately trigger the formation of crystalline metal soaps. However, significant zinc soap formation was found after 30 min of ethanol exposure using Evolon tissue without controlled loading. This study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of different methods of solvent application on oil paintings and highlights important differences between these methods.

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“…A study on the dry cleaning of plasticized PVC [41] showed that the use of cotton swabs induced the much faster migration of plasticizer towards the surface compared to other synthetic cloths made from polyester and polyamide fibers. Other studies also support the use of synthetic microfiber cloths instead of cotton swabs for sensitive surfaces [61,62]. In the present study, the evaluation of the cleaning media was carried out by testing the dry application of both the cotton and the Evolon ® CR cloth and examining the plastic surfaces with OM, SEM, and AFM.…”

Section: Cleaningapplication Methods Effectmentioning

confidence: 91%

Towards Sustainable Museum Conservation Practices: A Study on the Surface Cleaning of Contemporary Art and Design Objects with the Use of Biodegradable Agents

et al. 2021

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Green contemporary art conservation cleaning methods are explored as sustainable museum practices, ensuring the conservator’s health and reducing the environmental impact. The performance of selected biodegradable cleaning agents, namely deionised (DI) water, a chelate based on trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), Trilon® M, a non-ionic surfactant based on alkoxylated fatty alcohols (Plurafac® LF900), and two solvents, limonene and ethyl lactate, was evaluated for the surface cleaning of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), and plasticized polyvinyl chloride (pPVC). Plastic mockups were used untreated or artificially soiled, simulating particulate matter or sebum stains produced by handling. Furthermore, the efficacy of ink removal from the plastic’s surface was evaluated. Surface examination was carried out using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), while μ-Raman and gloss measurements complemented the cleaning assessment methodology. The cleaning agents’ potency depends on the type of plastic, precluding a general cleaning protocol. However, their cleaning efficacy is very promising, enriching the available choices for the cleaning of plastics, using sustainable materials and practices. This study offers valuable information to the conservation field regarding the effects of the selected biodegradable cleaning agents on each type of plastic, their application method, and their cleaning efficacy for the removal of different types of soil and ink.

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Evolon® CR Microfibre Cloth as a Tool for Varnish Removal

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Understanding and optimizing Evolon® CR for varnish removal from oil paintings

Understanding and optimizing Evolon® CR for varnish removal from oil paintings

Solvent-mediated extraction of fatty acids in bilayer oil paint models: a comparative analysis of solvent application methods

Towards Sustainable Museum Conservation Practices: A Study on the Surface Cleaning of Contemporary Art and Design Objects with the Use of Biodegradable Agents

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