We are pleased to announce a new, online edition of the NICAS colloquium on Thursday 7 November 2024 from 12.00 to 13.00 hrs. The colloquium will take place online through Microsoft Teams. Throughout the year, NICAS organises a bi-weekly Colloquium consisting of two short research lectures. It provides researchers with the opportunity to present ideas for, updates on or results of their activities. The NICAS Colloquium allows people to stay informed on a regular basis about the latest developments and results of research and to exchange information and expertise.
This week’s presentation is by Catarina Rocha Pires (UvA), the Chair is Sanne Berbers (RCE).
►Catarina Rocha Pires – Surface dirt removal from unvarnished mechanically and solvent-sensitive paintings: a comparative study involving atomic oxygen, soft particle blasting and dry cleaning methods
Abstract:
The presentation will share initial results of a comparative study on cleaning unvarnished paintings that are sensitive to mechanical and/or solvent-based methods. These delicate surfaces, including water-sensitive and porous oil paints and acrylics, require alternative cleaning techniques to prevent damage. Tested methods include atomic oxygen (AO) cleaning, soft particle blasting, and dry cleaning.
AO cleaning, currently in development as part of the Horizon Europe MOXY project, offers a unique non-contact method. It uses reactive atomic oxygen to break down carbon-based contaminants into CO, CO₂, and H₂O vapours. This approach enables effective cleaning without solvents or direct contact with the surface.
The experiments included soot and an artificial soil which were applied to both water-sensitive and highly porous paint mock-ups. Assessments were made through visual observation, digital microscopy, SEM-EDX analysis, and colour and gloss measurements. AO cleaning proved highly effective on porous and oil-based surfaces, dry cleaning effectively removed soot from water-sensitive paints, and soft particle blasting showed promise for embedded soiling on acrylics.
The work to be presented was developed in close collaboration with three master’s students, from the University of Amsterdam and the Courtauld Institute of Art (London).
Bio:
Catarina Rocha Pires is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, part of the Horizon Europe MOXY project, supervised by Prof. Dr. Klaas Jan van den Berg and Dr. Emilie Froment. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration from the NOVA School of Science and Technology in Lisbon, Portugal. Before beginning her PhD, Catarina gained practical experience in conservation and restoration and conservation science through internships at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) in Amsterdam, SRAL The Conservation Institute in Maastricht, and several museums in Lisbon.