Testing Aquazol®. An Evaluation of its Suitability for the Conservation of Works on Paper

Aquazol® has several qualities that make it an interesting conservation material, but there are also some concerns, especially regarding its hygroscopicity and possible discolouration. Focussing on its use as a non-aqueous adhesive, this study investigates the interaction between the synthetic resin and paper to evaluate its suitability for paper conservation. Out of a variety of solvents, acetone and MEK were chosen to prepare Aquazol® solutions applied to various paper substrates. Testing included spectrophotometry, tensile strength and pH measurements before and after accelerated aging, and an assessment of reversibility and moisture uptake with the associated stickiness of the adhesive films. While there is no evidence that Aquazol® negatively affects the mechanical stability or pH of paper, a tendency towards yellowing and darkening was confirmed. Its hygroscopicity can become an issue in a non-controlled environment.