Cyclododecane: practical applications in textile conservation

Hackett, J. (2018) Cyclododecane: practical applications in textile conservation. In: Rozeik, C. (ed.) Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation. Series: University of Cambridge Museums occasional papers (1). University of Cambridge Museums: Cambridge, pp. 73-81. (doi: 10.17863/CAM.34056)

Abstract

Cyclododecane’s properties as a temporary consolidant are well known and widely published in various fields of art conservation but it is cyclododecane’s properties as a temporary barrier to liquids that make it so useful to the textile conservator. The Victoria and Albert Museum has an extensive collection of textile and costume that is in great demand for exhibition and loan, resulting in the requirement for a considerable amount of aqueous treatment. As a result, we are always looking for ways to expand our selection of conservation techniques. Using various case studies as examples, this paper will discuss the ways in which cyclododecane has been used to facilitate treatments that would have been either impossible or very difficult to do without it. The first case study describes the use of cyclododecane to prevent tideline formation when applying a temporary tissue paper facing to a badly damaged, painted American Civil War flag. The paper then explores the use of cyclododecane as a wet cleaning aid by describing its use to isolate embroidery threads with fugitive dyes during the wet cleaning of an early 18th-century English quilt and a 19th-century Turkish towel. Its use to preserve an ink customs stamp on an early 19th-century printed muslin and as a way of protecting leather from damage during the solvent cleaning of metal decorations on a pair of 19th-century Turkish shoes is discussed. The final case study looks into the use of cyclododecane to form a barrier around an enzyme gel during a suction-table treatment to remove oily stains from an 18th- century silk counterpane. This paper also discusses the practical shortcomings of cyclododecane and why the author chose not to use it when wet cleaning two textiles with water-sensitive decorations.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hackett, Ms Joanne
• Authors: Hackett, J.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > History of Art
• Publisher: University of Cambridge Museums