Questionnaire on gap-filling materials for paintings conservation

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I am an MA student, currently in the final year of the 'Conservation
of Easel Paintings' course at Northumbria University. This year I
shall be carrying out a research project into the use of gap-filling
materials for paintings conservation. Specifically, I will be
researching the use of the water- and organic-soluble adhesive
Aquazol (poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)) as a component in gap fillers.

I would be very grateful if you could take some time to answer the
following questions concerning your use of gap-filling materials and
any experiences you have had of using Aquazol in a filling recipe.
Your answers would be very useful for this research and would be
greatly appreciated.

Basic information regarding Aquazol can be found at:

    <URL:http://www.polychemistry.com/products_aquazol.php>

If you require any further information or a list of literature on
Aquazol do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to your responses.

Questionnaire

    Name paintings conservator:
    Institution:
    Education:

    1. Do you usually use a ready-made filling material to fill
    losses in easel paintings? E.g. Polyfilla, BEVA Gesso etc.

    1a. If yes, which is your preferred type?

    1b. Why? For example, in terms of handling properties, ease of
    use, adhesive strength, flow properties, setting time,
    reversibility, ease of texturing etc.

    2. Do you usually make up your own filler?

    2a. If yes, which binding material do you usually use? E.g.
    Isinglass, gelatine, Mowiol, Flugger etc.

    2b. Which solvent do you use to dissolve your binding media?
    E.g. water, propan-2-ol etc.

    2c. Which fill material do you usually incorporate with this?
    E.g. calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate etc.

    2d. Are there any additional materials that you add to your
    filler? What are these? E.g. pigment.

    2e. What characteristics do these additional materials incur to
    the fill mixture? E.g. colour.

    2f. Could you briefly list the reasons why you prefer your
    filler of choice to other filler types? E.g. in terms of
    handling properties, ease of use, adhesive strength, flow
    properties, setting time, reversibility, ease of texturing etc.

    3. Has there been a circumstance where you have found it
    difficult or were unable to find an appropriate binder for your
    filling mixture?

    3a. If yes, please could you describe the scenario and the
    characteristics that you were looking for in a potential fill
    material.

    4. Have you ever used Aquazol as a binder in a filling mixture?

    4a. Why did you choose to use Aquazol over other binders?

    4b. What recipe did you use?

    4c. Was the fill successful?

    4d. If no, why?

    4e. If yes, which properties were good? For example in terms of
    handling properties, ease of use, adhesive strenght, flow
    properties, setting time, reversibility, ease of texturing etc.

    4f. Which texturing methods did you use and were they successful?

Thank you very much for your time,

Lucy Critchlow
MA Conservation of Easel Paintings
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Burt Hall
College Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8JG


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:43
                Distributed: Saturday, January 31, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-43-034
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