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 JAIC 2001, Volume 40, Number 2, Article 4 (pp. 125 to 136)  THE CONSERVATION OF WET MEDIEVAL WINDOW GLASS: A TEST USING AN ETHANOL AND ACETONE MIXED SOLVENT SYSTEM D. R. GRIFFITHS, & A. M. FEUERBACH ABSTRACTThis article describes some of the factors associated with the deterioration of ancient silicate glasses. On the basis of this model, a procedure i s proposed for the conservation of an assemblage of excavated, wet, painted medieval window glass fragments. The fragments had been stored wet si nce excavation and needed to be consolidated for long-term st orage in a way that was inexpensive, quick, and safe. The proposed treatment removes the water with ethanol and consolidates the fr agments with Paraloid B-72 (an acrylic polymer) dissolved in a mixed ethanol and acetone solvent system. Examination of the stor ed samples five years after this treatment indicates that the method appears successful. TITRELa conservation du verre archéologique humide provenant de vitraux du Moyen ge: un test avec une solution combinant l'éthanol et l'acétone. RÉSUMÉCet article décrit quelques-uns des facteurs reliés à la détérioration des verres anciens à base de silicate. Sur l a base de ce modèle, on propose une méthode pour l a conservation d'un groupe de fragments en verre peint provenant d'un vitrail moyenâgeux qui ont été excavés encore humides. Les fragments avaient été gardés sous des condition humides depuis leur excavation et devaient être consolidés de façon peu coûteuse, rapide et sûre avant leur mise en réserve à long terme. Le tr aitement qui est proposé consiste à remplacer l'eau avec de l'éthanol et à consolider les fragments avec du Paraloid B-72 (un polymère acrylique) dissous dans une solution à base d'éthanol et d'acétone. L'examen des échantillons en réserve depuis maintenant cinq ans après un tel traitement indique que la méthode semble bien réusssir. TITULOConservación del vidrio de una ventana medieval húmeda: prueba usando un sistema de solventes mezcla de etanol y acetona. RESÚMENEl presente artículo describe algunos de los factores asociados con el deterioro de vidrios de silicato antiguos. Con base en este modelo, se propone un procedimiento para la conservación de un grupo de fragmentos de vidrio de una ventana medieval pintada que se habían mantenido húmedos desde su excavación. Estos fragmentos necesitaban ser consolidados para su almacenamiento a largo plazo de una forma barata, rápida y segura. El tratamiento propuesto consistió en remover el agua con e tanol y consolidar los fragmentos con Paraloid B-72 (un polímero acrílico) disuelto en un sistema de solventes mezcla de etanol y acetona. La inspección de las muestras cinco años después del tratamiento indica que el método fue exitoso. 1 INTRODUCTION The conservation procedure proposed in this article was developed in response to the need to conserve an assemblage of excavated, wet, painted medieval window glass fragments. They appeared on art-historical gr ounds to date from a variety of periods. The treatment had to remove the water in which the fragments had been stored since excavation, consolidate the deteriorated pieces, and leave them in a fit state for long-term storage. While achieving these aims, the treatment also had to be inexpensive, requir e no specialized equipment, be relatively quick to perform, and involve a minimum of health and safety risks. The proposed treatment removes the water by replacing it with ethanol and consolidates the fragments with Paraloid B-72 (an acryli c polymer) dissolved in a mixed ethanol and acetone solvent system. Examination of the stored samples five years after this treatment indicates that the method appears successful. It may thus be worthy of further consideration and testing by others who need to conserve glass in a similar condition. To explain some of the rationale behind the treatment proposed, the article includes a brief description of the Página 1 de 11 JAIC 2001, Volume 40, Number 2, Article 4 (pp. 125 to 136) 20/02/2011 mhtml:file://H:\Arqueología\Vidrio\revisar\JAIC 2001, Volume 40, Number 2, Article 4 ( ...

Griffiths D.R. y Feuerbach A.M. Conservation Wet Window Glass. 2001

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