Service: IQF Laser Cleaning
Platforms
Fixlab
Techniques
Other
Organization
Instituto de Química Física Blas Cabrera
Spain
Service contact persons
Mohamed Oujja
Marta Castillejo
The laser removal of unwanted layers constituted by materials of diverse origin (organic and inorganic), assembled in mixtures (e.g., thick pollution, burial accumulations) or in layers (e.g., multiple protective, metallic, dirt and/or overpaint layers) on weathered, even fragile, original surfaces. The laser action is based on the process of ablation or vaporization and it offers unique possibilities in surface cleaning as it entails precise control, material selectivity and immediate feedback. These attributes are particularly important in Heritage conservation and within the last twenty years, lasers have evolved as exceptionally practical, and at the same time, delicate cleaning tools. This FIXLAB possesses a variety of pulsed laser sources emitting in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral ranges with pulse duration in the nanosecond and femtosecond regimes. Laser cleaning investigations are carried out in the installation on a large variety of heritage materials, including varnished paintings, polychromes on wood or stone, heritage stone with pollution and/or biodegradation crusts, metal substrates with corrosion layers, paper and parchment-based documents and other materials. Studies aim at determining the most adequate laser parameters and the most convenient methodologies (choice of laser wavelength, dual irradiation schemes, etc.) for a safe laser cleaning treatment according with material properties and state of conservation.
Removal of unwanted layers present on different substrates of Cultural Heritage: optimization procedures (elimination without damage), identification of side effects and design of mitigation strategies.
Fields of application
Applied physics
Archaeology
Architectural conservation
Art (discipline)
Chemistry
Decorative arts (discipline)
Heritage science (cultural heritage discipline)
Materials science
Metallurgy
Natural history
Materials
Book paper
Ceramic (material)
Crust
Textile materials
Varnish
biodegradation
wood
degradation layers
parchment
stone
Metal
Methods
Other information
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Input: Dimensions, description of the object, previous measurements, images
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Output: Report, images