Proof-of-concept study on the feasibility of supercritical carbon dioxide-assisted consolidation treatment for a pair of goalkeeper gloves on synthetic latex-based foam mock-ups

Ferreira, J. T., Bartoletti, A., França de Sá, S., Quye, A. , Shashoua, Y., Casimiro, T. and Ferreira, J. L. (2024) Proof-of-concept study on the feasibility of supercritical carbon dioxide-assisted consolidation treatment for a pair of goalkeeper gloves on synthetic latex-based foam mock-ups. Sustainability, 16(4), 1562. (doi: 10.3390/su16041562)

Abstract

This work investigates the suitability of supercritical fluid technology for designing a safe, efficient and sustainable consolidation treatment for a pair of heavily degraded goalkeeper gloves. Traditional methods have revealed themselves as unsafe and inefficient, leading to material loss and a minimal enhancement of surface cohesion. To overcome these limitations, the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) was explored in a treatment, where scCO2 behaves as a green solvent and consolidant carrier. In-depth and homogeneous application of the consolidant, without the need for direct contact with the foam material, was sought. As a proof of concept, the procedure was tested on samples that mimic the synthetic latex-based foam composition and condition of the object. Poly(vinyl acetate) was selected as a consolidant because its behaviour and solubility in scCO2 are known. Several experimental conditions were explored to assess the impact and feasibility of the scCO2-assisted consolidation procedure. Empirical observations, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were used to monitor potential modifications in the samples and assess the treatment efficacy. The results highlighted the advantages and pitfalls of scCO2-assisted consolidation, paving the way for fine-tuning the process. It neither damaged the fragile surfaces of the foam samples nor increased material loss, which is an advantage compared to traditional treatments. The performed analysis suggested that homogeneous impregnation of the foams was achieved. This study might be a turning point in the conservation of foam-based museum objects, as the results indicate the suitability of the scCO2-assisted consolidation process as a non-toxic and more efficient alternative, being safer for the object.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, e Ensino Superior (FCT/MCTES), Portugal, through the funded research project “PlasCO2 - Green CO2 Technologies for the Cleaning of Plastics in Museums and Heritage Collections” (PTDC/ARTOUT/29692/2017) and the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) financed by national funds (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020).
• Keywords: Supercritical CO2, impregnation, poly(vinyl acetate), sustainable conservation, cultural heritage, modern and contemporary materials, synthetic polymer materials, historical plastic objects.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Quye, Professor Anita

Creator Roles

Quye, A.: Validation, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Ferreira, J. T., Bartoletti, A., França de Sá, S., Quye, A., Shashoua, Y., Casimiro, T., and Ferreira, J. L.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > History of Art
• Journal Name: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• ISSN (Online): 2071-1050
• Published Online: 13 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 by the authors
• First Published: First published in Sustainability 16(4):1562
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence