Abstract
The anxiety caused by the fast growing decay of historical stained glass windows as a consequence of increasing environmental pollution, encouraged institutions of several countries to sponsor a series of scientific works aimed both to slow down this fast forwarding deterioration and to develop repair and preservation methods. After an initial review of the chemical composition of the stained glass windows and of the differences depending on historical epochs and origins, a discussion about chemical attack mechanisms, degradation processes and formation of superficial crusts opens up. Finally, the methodology used in their cleaning and restoration is briefly exposed and some criteria on the still polemic quest.
Highlights
Studies about rytcdieval stained glass windows have experimented a great increase in the last 20 years
The knowledge of the chemical composition of glasses is especially important because of the large information it provides about different aspects of interest, such as glass type, age and manufacturing place, chemical attack mechanisms and severiousness, nature of deposits formed, cleaning method to utilize, protective treatment and if necessary, pieces reproduction and replacement
The silica low content is one of the main decay causes in medieval glasses, because most of them have silica contents between 50 and 60% and in some of cases, it can decrease even below 40%
Summary
'¡'he anxiety caused by the fast growing decay of historical stained glass windows as a consequence of increasing environmental pollution, encouraged institutions of several countries to sponsor a series of scientific works aimed both to slow down this fast forwarding deterioration and to develop repair and preservation methods. After an initial r'eview of the chemical composition of the .stained glass windows and of the differences depending on historical epochs and origins, a discussion about chemical attack mechanisms, degradation processes and fonnation of superficial cr'usts opens up. El ataque atmosférico natural que han venido sufriendo a lo largo de varios siglos de existencia, se ha intensificado a causa de la creciente contaminación atmosférica que ha agravado alarmantemente, sobre todo en las grandes ciudades y en las zonas industriales, las condiciones de agresión química (1). El resultado de este ataque es una degradación del vidrio que lleva consigo el deterioro mecánico, la descomposición química, la alteración de los colores y la disminución de su transparencia originales
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