Studies on the Polysaccharide JunFunori Used to Consolidate Matt Paint

Funori is a polysaccharide extracted from the red alga Gloiopeltis furcata. This polysaccharide is generally known in conservation for its advantages as a product to consolidate matt paint. Because of variations in quality of the traditional Funori, the authors developed an extraction method and a p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inStudies in conservation Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 193 - 204
Main Authors Geiger, Thomas, Michel, Françoise
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Routledge 01.01.2005
James and James (Science Publishers) Ltd
International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
Subjects
Accelerated aging
Adhesives
Algae
Generalities
Glues
Humidity
Material films
Organisation and history of research
Paints
Pigments
Polymers
Polysaccharides
Prehistory and protohistory
East
Mining
Strengthening
Study
Art
Vine
Conservation
Materials
Alga
Chalk
Method
Variation
Painting
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Summary:Funori is a polysaccharide extracted from the red alga Gloiopeltis furcata. This polysaccharide is generally known in conservation for its advantages as a product to consolidate matt paint. Because of variations in quality of the traditional Funori, the authors developed an extraction method and a purification procedure to obtain the pure polymer called JunFunori. The improved consolidant was tested in comparison with traditional aqueous consolidants such as gelatine, sturgeon glue, Klucel E (hydroxypropylcellulose) and Methocel MC (methylcellulose). The investigations showed that, in contrast to consolidation using Klucel E and Methocel MC, consolidation using JunFunori hardly changes the appearance of an unbound pigment layer consisting of a mixture of vine black and chalk on canvas. Accelerated ageing tests with simultaneous ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and variations in humidity, in combination with mechanical tests and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, demonstrated that JunFunori shows good stability under these specific conditions. In viability tests JunFunori was as resistant to biological attack as the other consolidants tested. These results indicate that JunFunori demonstrates high potential as an alternative to traditional consolidants.
ISSN:0039-3630
2047-0584
DOI:10.1179/sic.2005.50.3.193