Plasma Technology in the Preservation and Cleaning of Cultural Heritage Objects

by Radko Tino, Katarína Vizárová, Frantisek Krcma, Milena Reháková, Viera Jancovicová

Overview

Scientists have long been looking for alternative methods for the cleaning of historical and cultural museum objects as conventional methods often fail to completely remove surface films, leaving contamination and surface residues behind. Low-temperature plasmas have recently been found to provide a new, efficient and durable approach that maintains the safety of both the materials and personnel. This book is the first to introduce the emerging use of low-temperature plasmas in the cleaning and decontamination of cultural heritage items.

It provides a comprehensive exploration of the new possibilities of cleaning objects with plasma, before providing a practice guide to the individual cleaning methods and an overview of the technologies and conditions used in the different cleaning regimes. It is an ideal reference for researchers in plasma physics, in addition to professionals working in the field of historical and cultural conservation.

Features:

• Provides a thorough overview of the cleaning potential of emerging plasma technologies in accessible language for professional restorers and conservators without a scientific background
• Includes the latest case studies from the field, which have not been published elsewhere yet
• Authored by a team of experts in the field

About the Authors:

Dr. Radko Tiňo is an Associate Professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Dr. Katarína Vizárová is an Associate Professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Dr. František Krčma is an Associate Professor at Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic.

Dr. Milena Reháková is an Associate Professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Dr. Viera Jančovičová is an Associate Professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Dr. Zdenka Kozáková is an Associate Professor at Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367229153
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	03/31/2021
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Radko Tiňo is an associate professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. He focuses his research on the properties and modifications of materials composed of natural polymers, mainly wood, paper, composites and parchment. He is also active in research and development of new mass conservation technologies for the preservation of cultural heritage. Since 2003, he has been actively researching the effects of low-temperature non-equilibrium plasmas on the surfaces of lignocellulosic materials in international projects (Durawood, SusPlArt) and domestic projects (PlasmArt, Mespekri, and others). He is a member of the advisory board of experts of the Slovak Commission for UNESCO and a member of the steering committee of the Working Party of Chemistry in Cultural Heritage within the European Chemical Society.

Dr. Katarína Vizárová is an associate professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava in the field of natural polymers and materials. Her research focuses on the identification, degradation and stabilization processes of organic materials and heritage objects. She has led and been part of several international and domestic research projects focused on mass conservation technologies for the preservation of heritage objects and materials.

Dr. František Krčma is an associate professor at Brno University of Technology in the field of physical chemistry. His research focuses on low temperature non-equilibrium plasmas in gases and liquids and their applications in material, environmental and biomedical applications. He was a chair of COST Action TD1208 Electrical discharges in liquids for future applications.

Dr. Milena Reháková is an associate professor at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava in the field of macromolecular chemistry. Her research focuses on the spectral identification, characterization, stabilization and cleaning processes of the color layer and writing means on traditional supports.

Dr. Viera Jančovičová is an associate professor at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, where she focuses on the study of photochemical processes and reactions. Her research also includes historical photographs, the study of their light and thermal stability, the degradation processes associated with their ageing and their protection.

Dr. Zdenka Kozáková is an associate professor at Brno University of Technology in Brno, Czech Republic in the field of physical chemistry. Her research focuses on diagnostics, chemical analyses and applications of non-thermal plasmas generated in gases and liquids.

Table of Contents

Contributors ix

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Cleaning in Preservation of Cultural Heritage 3

2.1 Principles of Cleaning 5

2.2 Cleaning Methods 5

2.2.1 Solvent Cleaning 6

2.2.2 Aqueous (Wet) Cleaning 7

2.2.3 Surfactant Cleaning 7

2.2.4 Chemical Cleaning 8

2.2.5 Gel Cleaning 8

2.2.6 New Cleaning Methods 9

Chapter 3 Plasma Technologies in Preservation of Cultural Heritage 11

3.1 Low-Pressure Operating Plasma Systems for Metallic Objects Surface Treatment 12

3.1.1 Vacuum and Gas Handling System 12

3.1.2 Power Supply 14

3.1.3 Plasma Process Monitoring 18

3.2 Atmospheric Pressure Operating Plasma Systems for Metallic Objects Surface Treatment 23

3.3 Laser-Based Plasma Systems for Metallic Objects Surface Treatment 25

3.4 Application of Plasmas with Liquids 27

3.5 Atmospheric Pressure Low-Temperature Plasma Systems for Objects Made from Natural and Synthetic Polymers 31

3.5.1 DBD 31

3.5.2 ADRE 33

3.5.3 Plasma Pen 33

3.5.4 Other Systems 35

Chapter 4 Cleaning Processes in Plasma 43

4.1 Sterilization/Decontamination 45

4.2 Ablation 48

4.3 Activation 48

4.4 Deposition 49

4.5 Cross-Linking 49

Chapter 5 Plasma Cleaning of Inorganic Objects and Materials 53

5.1 Removal of Corrosion Product Layers from Metals 53

Chapter 6 Plasma Cleaning of Organic Objects and Materials 59

6.1 Cleaning of Paper 59

6.2 Cleaning of Wood 62

6.3 Cleaning of Photographs 69

6.3.1 Introduction 69

6.3.2 Cleaning of Daguerreotypes 70

6.3.3 Microbial Decontamination of Albumen and Gelatin Photography 72

6.3.4 The Influence of Plasma Treatment on Properties of Photography 74

6.4 Cleaning of Textiles 75

6.5 Cleaning of Paintings 78

Chapter 7 Overview of Relevant Research Projects 85

Chapter 8 Current Own Case Studies 89

8.1 CS1: Microbiological Decontamination of Paper Substrate Using Low-Temperature ADRE Plasma 89

8.2 CS2: Cleaning of Color Layer on Paper Substrate 92

8.3 CS3: Decontamination of Gelatin Photography 95

8.4 CS4: Image Recovery in Cyanotype 97

8.5 CS5: Cleaning Historical Textile with Metal Threads by Plasma 99

8.6 CS6: Low-Pressure Removal of Model Corrosion Layers from Iron 104

8.6.1 Preparation of Iron Model Samples 105

8.6.2 Experimental Setup and Conditions 110

8.6.3 Samples Corroded in Hydrochloric Acid Corroded Treatment in the Continuous Regime 112

8.6.4 Hydrochloric Acid Corroded Samples Treatment in the Pulsed Regime 116

8.6.5 Treatment of Samples Corroded in Nitric Acid 120

8.6.6 Treatment of Samples Corroded in Sulfuric Acid 123

8.6.7 Application of Bias Voltage 124

8.6.8 Treatment in Hydrogen-Argon Gaseous Mixtures 126

8.6.9 Concluding Remarks 130

8.7 CS7: Treatment of Bronze Chisel by Low-Pressure Hydrogen-Argon Plasma 131

8.8 CS8: Surface Cleaning of Ancient Glass by Plasma Generated in Water Solution 134

Index 147