Natural and accelerated thermal aging of oil paint films

Abstract

AbstractAbstractProcesses that occur in oil paints after the initial drying stage include the hydrolysis of glyceride ester linkages, the formation of soaps, and the volatilization of low molecular weight compounds. The nature, amounts and distribution of the soluble components of paint films serve as indicators of the relative rates and extent of these processes. Comparisons of naturally aged paint with paint aged at an elevated temperature (80°C) indicate that thermal aging distorts the relative rates of these processes and does not accurately simulate the natural aging of oil paint. The relevance to conservation research of thermally aged paint, especially samples aged above the melting point of paint components, is questionable.