Nanodispersions of TiO2 in Water for Removing Acrylic Films Used in Conservation

Giulia Giuntoli; Marta Bini; Benedetta Ciuffi; Barbara Salvadori; Giovanni Baldi; Luca Rosi

doi:10.3390/polym13223966

Nanodispersions of TiO₂ in Water for Removing Acrylic Films Used in Conservation

Polymers (Basel). 2021 Nov 17;13(22):3966. doi: 10.3390/polym13223966.

Authors

Giulia Giuntoli¹, Marta Bini¹, Benedetta Ciuffi¹, Barbara Salvadori², Giovanni Baldi³, Luca Rosi¹

Affiliations

¹ Chemistry Department "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
² Institute of Heritage Science, ISPC-CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
³ Research Center Colorobbia, Cericol, Colorobbia Consulting, Via Pietramarina 123, Vinci, 50053 Florence, Italy.

Abstract

The influence of a nanodispersion of TiO₂ in water (nanoparticle size: 40 nm, polydispersity index: 0.25), brushed on a Paraloid film and subjected to UV-Vis irradiation was evaluated. The TiO₂ nanodispersions showed a tendency to reduce the molecular weight of Paraloid due to its photocatalytic properties. FTIR and GPC analyses and SEM images suggested the degradation of the polymer, while chromatic variations of the films were scarcely detected. This study is very remarkable in the perspective of using this material for the removal of polymeric films used in conservation.

Keywords: TiO2 nanodispersion; acrylic polymers; cultural heritage; film removal; nanoparticles; paraloid; photo-oxidation; photocatalytic properties; stone conservation.