Film forming PVA-based cleaning systems for the removal of corrosion products from historical bronzes

This paper presents an innovative poly(vinyl)alcohol-based film forming system, specifically devised for the controllable and selective cleaning of copper-based artifacts. Traditional cleaning procedures are commonly performed using mechanical and/or chemical methods. Unfortunately, both these methods present some limitations related to both the poor selectivity and invasiveness in case of the mechanical procedure, and to the scarce control over the involved reactions when dealing with a chemical approach. The innovative system proposed in this work allows combining the advantages of chemical and mechanical treatments thanks to the confinement of a complexing agent (EDTA) within a fluid, polymeric matrix, that is able to form a solid thin film upon drying. After treatment, the polymeric film can be completely removed from the artwork through a gentle peeling action. In this contribution, the film formation mechanism was investigated by means of thermal analysis and rheology; the role of plasticizers, volatile solvent fraction, and quantity of loaded EDTA is also discussed. Finally, the results of cleaning tests performed on artificially aged samples, and on a real case study, the “Fontana dei Mostri Marini” by Pietro Tacca in Florence, are presented.