JOURNAL
9/15/2014
Began cleaning of lime white wall with secco figure.
The wall had already been through the stages of dry cleaning, a water cleaning, and portions had been chemically cleaned using an ammonium solution applied via poultice. The portion that remained to be treated was the center with the secco figure. It was determined, based on previous restoration work, that prior to a chemical cleaning, the secco portion needed to be protected in order to reduce the risk of the solvent spreading into the pigment and reacting. The outline of the figure was taped off using masking tape. This was to make sure no cyclododecane was accidentally applied to portions of the wall that were to be chemically cleaned since it would inhibit the process.
9/22/2014
Applied cyclododecane (C12H24) in spray form only over the secco imagery, essentially forming a protective layer. Cyclododecane is a temporary consolidate which will sublime with out residue making the procedure fully reversible., Areas within the figure that were damaged (holes) were also taped off. Once complete, the cycolododecane was applied, the tape was removed, and the poultice was applied.
For our application of the poultice, we first applied sheets of Japanese rice paper to the wall using ammonium diluted with water. Then a poultice of sepiolite and arbocell mixed with more ammonium solution was spread in an even layer on top of the paper using a plastering knife. This was allowed to sit on the wall for approximately 2 hours before detaching the paper in small sections and removing the swelled dirt layer.
Began dry cleaning on walls in a separate room. Used sponge and brush.
