Questionnaire on biocides and fungicides for isinglass

I am a MA student in the Conservation of Historic Objects at the
University of Lincoln in UK and am currently conducting my
dissertation research about using biocides/fungicides with isinglass
solution used as consolidants or adhesives.  The research aims (1)
to assess the use of biocides/fungicides with isinglass and (2) to
investigate alterations of physical properties of the mixture of
isinglass and biocide/fungicide (e.g. colour alterations due to the
light exposure).  Due to the small number of publications on this
topic, this survey would be an important and fundamental part of the
research.

The objectives of the survey are (1) to obtain information about
microbiologically deteriorated natural glues/adhesives and using
biocides/fungicides with isinglass, (2) to identify the preparation
methods of isinglass solution with biocides/fungicides and any
issues, (3) to recognise how conservators think about using
fungicides/biocides with natural glue solutions

It would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes of your time
to fill in this questionnaire.  Please return the completed
questionnaire to rika.trombone<-a t->googlemail< . >com by Friday 5 September
2014.  (It would be better if you keep a copy of your responses for
yourself.)

Q1.     What is your current position in conservation of works of
        art?

        a) non-qualified volunteers
        b) students/interns
        c) qualified conservator

Q2.     What is your specialism? (If you do not have specialism,
        please write N/A.)

Q3a.    Would you mind if I contacted you to ask more details or
        questions regarding the research?
        Yes/No (please confirm your name and contact details on the
        email when you return this questionnaire)

Q3b.    Would you like to receive the result of this survey and a
        digital copy of completed dissertation?
        Yes/No

Q4a.    Have you ever noticed or treated any works of art that
        contain natural glues/adhesives infested by bacteria or
        fungi? (e.g. binding media, consolidants used for previous
        conservation treatments)
        Yes/No

Q4b.    To those who answered Yes, could you explain an example of
        your experiences? (e.g. what it was, where it was, how it
        was infested, how environmental conditions were,
        conservation treatments, etc.)

Q5a.    Have you ever added biocide/fungicide into a natural
        glue/adhesive solution (to use for conservation treatments)?
        Yes/No
        If No please go to Q10a

Q5b.    To which type of natural glues/adhesives solution did you
        add biocides/fungicides? [Multiple answers allowed]

        a) Isinglass/sturgeon glue
        b) Fish glue
        c) Animal glue (hide glue/ bone glue/ rabbit skin glue etc.)
        d) Gelatine
        e) Starches (rice starch/wheat starch etc.)
        f) Cellulose ether (methyl cellulose etc.)
        g) Other glue/adhesive

        If you answered (a),: please go to Q6
        If you answered (b) - (g), please go to Q10a

Q6.     In what occasion and why did you decide to add
        biocides/fungicides into isinglass solution? Did you have
        any other considerations (e.g. using synthetic resins such
        as Paraloid B72, adding biocides/fungicides in other natural
        adhesives, etc.)? Please provide an example from your
        experience.

Q7.     Could you provide your standard preparation methods for
        isinglass solution with a biocide/fungicide? (e.g. chemicals
        or product names of the biocide/fungicide that you added,
        proportion of the biocide/fungicide, when it was added and
        mixed with the isinglass solution, etc.)

Q8a.    Was there anything in particular that you paid attention to
        when using the isinglass and biocide/fungicide solution?
        (e.g. duration of heating, repetition of heating, storage of
        the solution etc.)
        Yes/No

Q8b.    If you answered Yes, what were they?

Q9a.    Have you ever evaluated the effects of adding
        biocides/fungicides into isinglass solutions?
        Yes/No

Q9b.    If Yes, when you evaluated the treatment(s), what effects,
        either positive aspects or negative aspects, did you notice?
        (e.g. efficiency of biocide/fungicide, colour alterations,
        viscosity of the solutions, flexibility of the films, etc.)

Q10a.   Do you agree with using fungicide together with isinglass
        (or other natural adhesives) solution in the field of
        conservation?

        1 . Strongly disagree
        2. Disagree
        3. Neutral
        4. Agree
        5. Strongly agree

Q10b.   Please provide the reasons

Thank you for your contribution.

If you have any questions, suggestions, comments and thoughts about
this survey and research topic, please do not hesitate to contact
me.

I would appreciate if you could spread the questionnaire to those
who might be interested in. The questionnaire form created in
Microsoft Office Word is also available, so please contact me if you
need it.

(A few examples of literature related to this topic)

   Arai, H. (1979)
   "Method for preventing fungus growth on the decorative painting
   of wooden historical buildings", Hozon kagaku No. 18, pp. 27-34
   [Japanese]

   Bubiniene, I. (2000)
   "The Application of New Fungicides for Museum Object Protection
   against Micro-organisms", Postprints of The Baltic Nordic
   Conference on Conserved and Restored Works of Art 6-9 October
   1999, Tallinn, Estonia, available at:

        <URL:http://www.kanut.ee/toimetised/konverentsid/consasinvest.htm>

   Tiano, P., Tosirni, I., and Rizzi, M. (1997)
   "Antimould action of some biocides mixed with glues used in
   paintings conservation", Science and Technology for Cultural
   Heritage, 6 (2) pp129-134

   Unger, A., Schmiewind, A.P. and Unger, W. (2001)
   Conservation of Wood    Artifacts: A Handbook

    Please return the completed questionnaire to
    rika.trombone<-a t->googlemail< . >com

Rika Goto
MA in Conservation of Historic Objects
University of Lincoln, UK


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:11
                  Distributed: Friday, August 15, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-28-11-022
                                  ***