Laser Cleaning in Art Restoration: A Review

Abstract

This paper presents a review of previous work on laser cleaning from the perspective of conservation and restoration in the art world. Particular attention is given to laser cleaning mechanisms, including selective vaporisation, ablation, selective removal of small particles, steam cleaning and special features for metals.Results of recent work in our laboratories on the cleaning of one of the world's ftrst aluminium statues, the Liverpool Gilbert Eros statue, using a Q-switched Nd: Y AG laser and the investigation of the effect of process control features (laser power, working distance, number of pulses per position) on the morphology and composition of the cleaned surface (as determined by EDX, EPMA, XRD and SEM) are also presented.

Laser Cleaning and Spectroscopy: A Synergistic Approach in the Conservation of a Modern Painting

“…Laser cleaning methods have been employed over the past three decades in a number of conservation cases including the removal of surface deposits and/or contamination, corrosion layers, materials from previous conservation treatments and overpaint layers from different types of cultural heritage objects [1][2][3][4]. The effectiveness of modern laser cleaning methodologies has been gaining recognition and lasers have been successfully used in quite a few cases of encrustation removal from archaeological and historical stone sculpture and monuments [3][4][5].…”