Surface chemical investigation into the cleaning procedures of historic tapestry materials. Part 2

Cleaning of invaluable historical artefacts is a major issue for conservators. It is not only what is removed during cleaning, but also what residues are left after cleaning, that is of concern for long-term preservation. In this study, the typical cleaning procedures for silk-based tapestry materials were examined by Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and the nature/ influence of the fibre surface on detergent residue adsorption established.