Laser cleaning as a part of the restoration process: removal of aged oil paints from a Renaissance sandstone portal in Dresden, Germany

Abstract

Laser cleaning was applied to remove aged and soiled oil paints of the 19th century from weathered, brittle sandstone surfaces. In contrast to other tested cleaning methods, the laser technique allows the removal of the oil paint layers with a minimum of material loss in brittle zones. The cleaned test areas have been investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy as well as by colour measurements. The investigations have shown that the dirt and the oil paint layers can be removed by laser cleaning without affecting the original sandstone surface and that the pores can be opened again. The brown shade after cleaning is not caused by laser interaction with the sandstone surface but by historic impregnation with linseed oil. Immediately after cleaning, a treatment with chemical consolidants is necessary to preserve the brittle sandstone surface. Sustainable consolidation could be problematic in some areas, because the laser cleaning also preserves heavily damaged, crumbling zones of the carvings. For economic reasons, laser cleaning should be applied only in the most endangered zones of carvings and combined with classical methods (organic solvents and scalpel).