A team of researchers developed a new coating able to create a graphene film that protects artworks against degradation.
A team of researchers from the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences of Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH/ ICE-HT), the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Patras, and the Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI) of the University of Florence, led by Professor Costas Galiotis, has developed a graphene-based coating for the protection of paintings against environmental degradation.
Degradation mechanisms (including fading and yellowing), triggered by the exposure of colours to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light in the presence of oxidizing agents, can lead to irreversible alteration of artworks.
The newly developed graphene-based coating creates a flexible, transparent film, produced by chemical vapour deposition, which is impermeable to moisture, oxygen and corrosive agents, and can also absorb a large amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it has the potential to be used as a transparent layer for the protection of art objects in museums, during storage and transportation.
Tests have shown that a single-layer or multilayer graphene veil can be deposited over artworks to protect them efficiently against colour fading, with a protection factor of up to 70%.
The graphene film has a monoatomic thickness and can cover any required large surface areas. In contrast to other protective means – which removal requires the use of solvents that can adversely affect the underlying work surface – it is demonstrated that these graphene coatings are easy to remove using a soft rubber eraser without damaging the surface of the artworks.
Researchers have also explored a complementary contactless graphene-based route for colour protection that is based on the deposition of graphene on picture framing glass for use when the direct application of graphene is not feasible due to surface roughness or artwork fragility.
Overall, the results obtained by the team of researchers, published on Nature, show the potential use of graphene as an effective and removable protective advanced material to prevent colour fading in artworks.