Limestone

Frenkie Chetcuti <mozart [at] global__net__mt> writes

>I would like some information on how to remove the black crust which
>formulates on limestone, either mechanical or chemical cleaning.
>Both are of interest to me.

Laser cleaning is also an extremely sensitive method of removing
black pollution crusts from limestone.  Nd:YAG laser cleaning
systems developed for conservation (based on medical laser systems)
have been used in a number of European countries during the past ten
years. The technique is suited to either studio or site work and has
tended to be used on sculpture and sculptural/architectural detail
on buildings. With the development of higher power lasers, the
technique is also becoming suited to larger-scale cleaning. In
September (11-14th), the fourth international conference on lasers
in the conservation of artworks (LACONA IV) will be held in Paris,
at which the latest developments in the field will be discussed.

Martin Cooper
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
Laser Technology
The Conservation Centre
Whitechapel
Liverpool L1 6HZ
UK
+44 151 478 4904
Fax: +44 151 478 4990


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 14:62
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 15, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-14-62-004
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