Solvent-gels workshop

Workshop description:

We are pleased to announce a solvent-gel workshop taught by Book and Paper Conservator Françoise Richard.

This three-day training will focus on the use of gels combined with aqueous solutions and organic solvents for book and paper conservation. During knowledge-based and hands-on sessions, participants will learn about the chemistry and properties of different gels in order to optimize their use in practice. Notions of solubility, toxicity, and sustainability will be directly applied when making and using solvent-gels for the removal of synthetic adhesives. Participants will modify gels and adjust their application methods in order to improve treatment efficiency.

Biography of course teacher:

After graduating with a MA in conservation from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Françoise Richard worked for private and institutional Book and Paper conservation studios in the US, Europe and the UK. In 2017, she moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where she joined the Rijksmuseum conservation team, before starting her own private practice. In 2021, she joined the department of Conservation and Restoration at the University of Amsterdam with a part-time lectureship while continuing to provide conservation services to Dutch cultural institutions.

Attendance:

The attendance will be in person only for both the lectures and practical sessions.

• Option one - £400: Nine spots are available for the three-days workshop (lectures and practical sessions). To book your ticket, please email The London Archives with your full name and email address, and include the term 'Solvent-gels workshop tickets' in the subject or question.
• Option two - £40: Two mornings of lectures held from 9am to 12.30pm are open to a wider audience up to 40 attendees on 20 and 21 November - Please note: this ticket option does not include afternoon workshops or any of the Saturday sessions. To book this ticket, please follow the 'Get tickets' booking ticket at the end of this page.

Study objects:

For the practical sessions, attendees are expected to bring examples of study-objects presenting adhesive cleaning problems they would like to solve with hydrogels or solvent-gels: for instance, the removal of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) from paper artworks or archival documents; the removal of PSA from the cover or pages of books; natural adhesive removal from the spine of a book.

Low value study-objects can be sourced in second-hand shop, flee-markets or attendees’ personal collection.

We suggest you bring the following items if you are participating in the practical sessions.

• Brushes
• Scalpels
• Spatulas
• Tweezers
• Light weight (type snake)
• UV filtering glasses
• UV light (optional, can be shared)
• Handheld light
• Lab coat (solvents will be used)
• Magnifying glass Case study object, for instance paper samples with old PST adhesive

Timetable:

• Morning sessions: 9.00am to 12.30pm with a 20 minute coffee break at 10.30am
• Afternoon sessions: 1.15 to 5pm with a 20 minute coffee break at 3pm

Programme:

Day one: Hydrogels - Thursday 20 November

Morning – Theory (9.00 to 12.30)

Poulticing and gelling materials combined with water-based solutions are widely used in paper conservation, and many different gelling materials have become available to conservators. How do gels work? What are their application limits? How to select the right gel to use for a specific treatment?

This session will define and classify gelling materials, with an emphasis on self-made hydrogels for local water-based treatments. Treatment application examples will focus on application methods and on the use of enzyme loaded gels for the removal of adhesive stains from paper.

Afternoon – Practice (1.15 to 5pm)

Learning objectives:

• Preparation of rigid hydrogels combined with water or water-based solutions using agar, gellan gum LA, and gellan gum HA.
• How to assess the risks of side-effects of the application of hydrogels on paper.
• Adjustment of the conditions of application in order to modify the treatment outcome

Attendees will practice:

• Changing the mechanical characteristics of rigid gels by changing the composition of the gels (concentration of gelling material, concentration in cation, mixing gelling materials)
• Casting thin or thick gels
• Preparing enzyme-loaded agar gels
• Observing the outcome of different hydrogel application methods and condition of application on paper samples

Day two: Solvent-gels -Friday 21 November

Morning – Theory (9am to 12.30pm)

The session will focus on the two following topics:

1. Organic solvents and hydrogels for the removal of pressure-sensitive tape in paper conservation: How to introduce organic solvents in hydrogels? How to select which solvent to use? The first part of the session will discuss how to optimize three main factors: efficiency, toxicity and sustainability.
2. Mitigating potential side-effects of the application of hydrogels or solvent-gels on paper: The application of a water or solvent-based local treatment poses the risk of uneven appearance of treated surfaces, particularly by the formation of brown lines at the wet-dry interface. Cyclomethicone D5 will be presented as a treatment aid to help mitigating these risks.

Afternoon – practice (1.15 to 5pm)

Learning objectives:

• Preparation of self-made solvent-gels (soft and rigid)
• Implementation of solvent-gel treatments: selecting solvent-gel and application parameters (application duration, temperature, and application of treatment-aid cyclomethicone D5)
• Propose a treatment plan for specific objects (own object brought in by participants)

Attendees will practice:

• Making paste-like solvent-gels using Klucel G and H, xanthan gum, and PVA-Borax
• Loading agar gels with organic solvents
• Carrying out solubility tests on adhesives and paper objects
• Testing the effects of different application parameters on paper samples

Day three: case-studies - Saturday 22 November

All day – practice on study-objects brought by attendees

Learning objectives:

• Implementing conservation treatment on objects using hydrogels and solvent-gels on study-objects brought by attendees
• Optimization of treatment by adjusting application condition

Attendees will practice:

• Decision-making for conservation treatment
• Treating study-objects with hydrogels and solvent-gels

Booking

• For £400 tickets, including both lecture and practical sessions over three days, please email The London Archives - please include the term 'Solvent-gels workshop tickets' in the subject or question.
• For £40 tickets, including morning lectures only on Thursday and Friday, please follow the 'Get Tickets' booking link at the end of this page.