The preservation of modern materials in significant contemporary art works through surface stabilisation

这一可行性项目的目的是开发一种超薄涂层技术，以覆盖具有文化意义的复杂多组分塑料形式，以帮助保存材料。涂层将通过超临界二氧化碳(ScCO2)溶剂连续输送丙烯酸酯单体在物品表面形成。在混合时，快速聚合将迅速形成密封的透明保护层，类似于表面的清漆。许多当代艺术品由塑料配方组成或含有塑料配方，由于水解和暴露在有害的紫外线下，塑料配方容易降解。这里的目的是将这些物品密封在空气和/或水和光线中，同时允许它们保持陈列状态。使用丙烯酸酯塑料的涂料将是研究的重点，因为众所周知，它们可以迅速形成坚固而透明的“清漆”，一旦形成，在化学上也非常稳定。任何现有的保护清漆都被认为太厚，因此如果应用到这些复杂的混合塑料配方中，就会非常具有侵入性。这种scCO2技术将提供微米厚的聚合物涂层，在不影响材料或视觉完整性的情况下稳定材料，这对艺术保护应用是必不可少的。“

"The aim of this feasibility project is to develop an ultra-thin coating technique to cover complex multi component plastic forms of cultural significance which aids in the preservation of the materials. The coating will be formed on the surface of the item by the consecutive delivery of acrylate monomers via a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) solvent. On mixing, the quick polymerisation will rapidly develop a sealed transparent protective coating, analogous to a varnish on the surface.Many contemporary artworks are made up of or contain plastic formulations that are subject to degradation due to to hydrolysis and exposure to harmful UV rays. Here the aim will be to seal such items from air and/or water and light whilst allowing them to remain on display. Coating using acrylate plastics will be the focus of the study as they are known to rapidly form strong and clear 'varnishes' that are also chemically very stable once formed. Any existing conservation varnishes are considered to be too thick and thus very invasive if applied to these complex mixed plastic formulations. This scCO2 technique will deliver micron thickness polymer coating to stabilise the materials without affecting their material or visual integrity, which is essential for applications in art conservation."