Research on the viability of the use of rigid gels for the cleaning of water-gilded surfaces

Abstract

As the Getty Institute of conservation and other researchers said, studies are absent regarding cleaning gilded surfaces. These surfaces are extraordinarily complex to clean due to their water-sensitive nature. This research aims add some light into this field by studying two different hydrogels that control the diffusion of the water into the surface, creating a perfect condition for cleaning water-gilded surfaces. The gels tested are Agar-agar and xPVAcBorax, which are sustainable and non-toxic; this means that they are not only suitable for cleaning water-gilded surfaces but also environmentally friendly and kind to the conservator's health. For this purpose, a soiled water-gilded surface is used to test the gels and their variations. Afterward, the surface is studied to see the effectiveness by means of scientific studies such as SEM or gloss meter