PVA-Borax Gel workshop

At the beginning of May SRAL had the pleasure of hosting an in-depth workshop on PVA-Borax high viscosity gelling agents used in conservation, led by Instructors Andrea del Bianco & Augusto Giuffredi and assisted by Margherita Mazzotti.
During the 3-day event at SRAL conservation studios in Maastricht, the Netherlands, participants from across the globe connected and studied a variety of gel preparation techniques. This included modifying physical properties and performance by adjusting reagent concentrations and adding various agents. Recipes demonstrated included varying the concentration of reagents, adjusting rigidity, and cleaning properties of the gels.

Case studies

The workshop featured a range of case studies demonstrating the cleaning effectiveness of PVA-Borax gels (and other options such as Agar or Nevek). Applications for overall porous surfaces or selective removal from painted surfaces and cleaning delicate materials such as textured paints, oils, temperas, acrylics, plastics, and others were covered. Participants of various specializations such as paintings, textiles, and paper conservators, as well as lecturers in conservation programs, had a hands-on experience in preparing and testing PVA-Borax gels, adjusting their viscoelasticity, and loading them with organic solvents and cleaning agents on various mock-ups provided by SRAL and those brought by the participants. We learned to tailor the recipes, purchase products alternatives available in our region, and updated our knowledge on applications of various gels available on the conservation market. 

The event was received with enthusiasm and appreciation. Wide range of PVA-Borax applications is continued to be practiced by the participants in their home countries - from wall paintings in Scandinavia to archival paper in Hong Kong. On behalf of SRAL, we want to thank all the participants and the instructors for their enthusiasm!