Abstract
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.
Highlights
Inherent to the field of cultural heritage preservation is the social responsibility that requires the development of more sustainable approaches suitable for both human health and the environment, following the United Nations and climate change policies [1,2].Conservation and restoration practices involve conservation treatments that require the use of various materials and techniques, aiming to ensure the stability of cultural heritage and art objects
The preliminary results obtained in this research using imaging techniques (OM, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM)) and Raman spectroscopy were very encouraging, showing, in general terms, the safety of these materials for the plastic surfaces with no remarkable changes to the morphology, chemical structure, or aesthetic appearance
Evolon® CR microfiber cloth proved to be a safe material for the application of the cleaning agents, for all plastic types, preventing abrasion action
Summary
Inherent to the field of cultural heritage preservation is the social responsibility that requires the development of more sustainable approaches suitable for both human health and the environment, following the United Nations and climate change policies [1,2].Conservation and restoration practices involve conservation treatments that require the use of various materials and techniques, aiming to ensure the stability of cultural heritage and art objects. Very often, materials that present a potentially high risk to the health of the conservator and the environment are applied In this context, in the last few years, an effort has been made towards the integration of practices that are both healthy and environmentally safe, taking into account all the factors that contribute to their environmental impact, such as the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the products, waste management, and the carbon footprint of products’ lifetime and all activities involved in the process [3,4,5,6]. Friendly systems can be incorporated into surface cleaning, which is of great importance in order to protect plastic materials from future deterioration and to preserve them in good condition
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