Entanglement-controlled gels for versatile artifact cleaning

In the process of cultural heritage conservation, the surface cleaning of artworks is an extremely delicate and challenging task. Due to the significant differences in cleaning requirements for various artifacts, the threshold for materials used in conservation is high, encompassing criteria such as chemical stability, reversibility, minimal invasiveness, and long-term compatibility with the artifact. In this work, we prepared a physically crosslinked and reusable gel through ultraviolet light-induced polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) monomers. By adjusting the monomer concentration, we were able to fine-tune the gel’s adhesion and bulk strength, allowing it to meet the cleaning needs of various artifacts. By comparing the model surfaces before and after cleaning, it observed that the gel caused no damage to the surface and left no residue. This gel demonstrates the potential to remove soiling residues from rough and irregular artistic surfaces, further broadening the application scenarios of gels in artifact restoration.