Conductive transparent film heater as alternative to heating table: towards new intelligent mobile accurate thermoelectrical (IMAT) device for structural conservation of paintings

The article brings forward the issues related to the instrumentation used for thermal treatments in the conservation of paintings, stressing the importance of accurate control, and the inadequateness of available devices. The authors propose a different approach, which employs portable, highly accurate flexible heaters, and focuses on the concept of a new “smart” heating device – IMAT, which employs the unusual electrical and thermal characteristics of one of most exciting new materials of our time – carbon nanotubes (CNT). New CNT materials allow for the design of thin, lightweight, even transparent, stretchable and woven heaters with low power needs as an ultra-portable, versatile and efficient alternative for diverse thermal treatments in art conservation.