Mounting tiles

At our museum we have had success mounting ceramic tiles on aluminum
honey-comb panel using a silicone adhesive. The tiles were prepared
for mounting by applying Acryloid B-72 (approximately 20% in ethanol
or acetone) to all four corners on the reverse side of the tile.
This provides an isolating layer between the ceramic and the
silicone rubber, making it reversible with solvents.

Prior to adhering the tiles in place, we adhered very thin strips of
black Volara foam to the edges of the tiles to act as a spacer and
cushion the tiles.  Next, the surface of the aluminum panel was
slightly roughened with sandpaper to increase the adhesion of the
silicone. Four spots of silicone rubber were applied to each tile.
The amount of silicone used on each corner was fairly small -- about
1 to 1 1/2 cm in diameter.  The tiles were gently pressed into
position on the panel.

The silicone rubber we used is made by General Electric;  I believe
the product number is #162.  (Dow Corning may make a comparable
material.) This is a white, non-corrosive, electronics-grade
adhesive.  It was tested in our laboratory using polished metal
coupons with no tarnishing being observed. It adheres very well to
both the ceramic and the aluminum panel.  Our test tiles released
quite easily from the silicone rubber when acetone was flowed under
it.

The aluminum panel we used has a wooden collar inset into the edges
which permit a frame to be attached directly to the panel, if
desired.

Laura Reutter
Associate Conservator of Objects
Indianapolis Museum of Art

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:57
                 Distributed: Friday, December 13, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-57-001
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