Neutralisation treatment for paintings damaged by acid

After two recent acid attacks on paintings, the Doerner Institut was
asked by freelance restorers for assistance with conservation
treatments. This has prompted the internal publication of updated
instructions for neutralisation with ion-exchange resins which is
available on request.

The strongly basic anion-exchange resin from the Lewatit product
series (Bayer Leverkusen) was used at the end of the 1980s by the
Doerner Institut to neutralise acid-damaged panels by Albrecht Durer
that had hung in the Alte Pinakothek. However, this resin is no
longer commercially available. The search for an equivalent
replacement resin led to a weakly basic ion-exchanger (Lewatit MP
62, Lanxess Deutschland GmbH), which has the additional advantage of
being much easier to prepare. Lanxess Deutschland generously
provided the Doerner Institut with a large complimentary sample of
Lewatit MP 62.

In an acute case, restorers from museums and collections requiring
assistance are welcome to contact the Doerner Institut. We will
supply a corresponding amount of the ion-exchange resin and its
safety data sheet along with instructions on the neutralisation of
damaged artwork.

Contact:

    Dr. Heike Stege
    Head of Scientific Department
    Doerner Institut
    Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen
    Barer Strasse 29
    80799 Munchen
    info<-a t->doernerinstitut< . >de


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:56
                  Distributed: Friday, April 18, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-56-001
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