JAIC 2002, Volume 41, Number 1, Article 5 (pp. 61 to 90)
JAIC online
Journal of the American Institute for Conservation
JAIC 2002, Volume 41, Number 1, Article 5 (pp. 61 to 90)

THE SWELLING OF ARTISTS' PAINTS IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS. PART 2, COMPARATIVE SWELLING POWERS OF SELECTED ORGANIC SOLVENTS AND SOLVENT MIXTURES

ALAN PHENIX


ABSTRACT—This article describes the swelling responses of two oil paint films as a consequence of immersion in solvents of various kinds. The two test paint films have the same original formulation and are based on proprietary artist's oil colors containing yellow ocher and flake white pigment bound in linseed oil: one was aged by exposure to high light dosage, and the other was unexposed. Lateral, in-plane swelling of the paint films during immersion in solvent was determined by a simple microscopical method using computer-based image analysis. Results are reported for the swelling of both paint films in more than 55 common solvents and 14 binary solvent mixtures containing ethanol. Data are presented as swelling curves of percentage change in area as a function of time and as plots of degree of maximal swelling as a function of selected solvency indicators. The results are discussed in comparison with existing data on the swelling of oil films by organic solvents and in relation to the implications for the cleaning of oil-based paints.
[Spanish Abstract] [French Abstract]

Article Sections:

1. INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
2. REASSESSING THE HEDLEYSTOLOW PEAK SWELLING REGION
3. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5. SUMMARY
6. CONCLUSIONS
a: Notes , References , Author Information
Entire Article

Copyright � 2002 American Institution for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works