AIC 53rd Annual Meeting

A unique partnership comprising focal points from academia, chemical industry, non-profit, and private practice was carefully curated with specific expertise, capabilities, and priorities to advance safer solvent identification and education for cultural heritage use. The work highlighted within is a continuation of the “Safer Solvent Selections for the Removal and Application of Synthetic Resins” paper presented at the 2024 RATS Specialty Session of the annual AIC meeting.  The work justification and vision is unchanged from last year: conservators seek solvents for the application and removal of polymeric resins that a) are no/low-odor, b) have minimal health and environmental impacts and c) achieve the necessary solvation and film properties.

Previous work identified solvent blends that met rigorous GHS-defined safety criteria and demonstrated ranges of solvency for Laropal A81, PARALOID™ B72, and PARALOID™ B44. This presentation will provide the next stage of research with advanced solvent blend considerations, characterization of polymeric films properties casts from select blends, and Greener Solvents project partner feedback on test evaluations.  A dialogue with the AIC community is critical to bring this research into practice over time. We look forward to productive discussion that moves the field towards safer solvent alternatives that work.