Name

Ana Isabel Morais Lavrador Pereira

Title of research project / research interests

The perfect paint in Modern Art Conservation: A comparative study of 21st century vinyl emulsions

Affiliation(s)

Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, Universidade Nova de Lisboa-Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia; REQUIMTE, FCT-UNL

Supervisor(s)

Maria João Melo; Tom Learner; Stephan Schäfer

Estimated date of completion

2013

Previous education and/or work experience

Graduation in Conservation and Restoration; Private practice in conservation and restoration of Paintings

Abstract

In this project we will study the ageing mechanisms of vinyl binders and formulations used by artists in the 21^st century. These vinyl emulsions will be selected among artists' paints, housepaints and poster paints. The stability over time will be quantified through quantum yields of photodegradation, namely for chain scission and cross-linking for the selected vinyl polymers. Also, a comparison of the overall photochemical stability between commercial vinyl and acrylic paints, currently used by artists, will be undertaken for the following colors: titanium white, lithopone, black iron oxide, earth yellow, ultramarine blue and madder red. The results will be used to evaluate the conservation state of selected case studies and to correlate the observed molecular level transformations with the painting conditions. The artists to be studied are Julião Sarmento (b.1948), Bridget Riley (b.1931).

Finally, the results obtained will be applied to improve preventive conservation strategies of the selected paintings as well as to test and discuss the effects and consequences of possible restoration operations, namely the paintings cleaning.

Contact

Name: Ana Isabel Morais Lavrador Pereira

Address: Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, FCT-UNL; Quinta da Torre; 2829-516 Caparica

Phone 00351 212948322

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

URL: http://www.dcr.fct.unl.pt/
http://www.cqfb.fct.unl.pt/fotoquimica/