Šiuolaikinio šildymo įrenginio IMAT panaudojimas restauruojant meno kūrinius

ENIn November 2011, the IMАТ (Intelligent Mobile Accurate Thermo-Electrical mild heating device) project under the European Commissions 7th Framework Program (FP7) for research has been launched. In the IMAT project the application of carbon nanotubes offered new opportunities to design radically new highly accurate mobile mild heating technology and devices. Thus multifunctional flexible “smart” mat heater was produced. Pranas Gudynas Restoration Centre (branch of the Lithuanian National Art Museum) took part in this project as a partner, so we were one of the first to try this film heater. IMAT was successfully applied to consolidate paint and ground layers in polychrome sculptures and paintings conservation. But we were exceptional and the first to try IMAT mat in treatments with enzymes. The first attempts to use enzymes in conservation were done in seventies. In our days enzymes are becoming more and more popular. The conservators use them for adhesive, overpaints or varnish removal, spot and dirt cleaning. Enzyme activity depends on substrate concentration, temperature and pH. Temperature is one of main factors affecting enzyme activity. While using enzymes in restoration it was a real challenge for conservators to achieve desired temperature and to keep it constant during all process. Paper conservators often have to remove old adhesive (usually mostly proteins) residues from paper. For such purpose we tried protease Alcalase 2,5LDX (Novo Nordisk, Denmark).Optimum temperature for this enzyme +40 °C - was ensured by IMAT film heater. Despite different enzyme carriers and concentrations, treatments more or less were successful. Another example - restoration of box carved from wood, covered with moire silk, decorated with silver lace and silk embroidery. Silk to the wood was attached with thick layer of casein adhesive. A mixture of Everlase 16L and Esperase 8,0L (Novozymes, Denmark) enzymes was used to remove adhesive. The required temperature was warranted by IMAT heating mat. The same enzyme mixture, in same concentration and carrier, was tried at room temperature, without heating. There was no effect at all. This sample makes it obvious that IMAT heating mat is essential and comfortable suitable in conservation processes with enzymes.