Material characterisation of laminated artworks in the czech republic: Influence of abrasive blasting and organic solvents on the restored surface

Abstract This study presents the material composition of laminated artworks created on the territory of today’s Czech Republic between 1950 and 1990. During a field survey, more than 60 objects were evaluated, and for 48 of them, the chemical composition of the resin matrix was determined using analytical methods. Approximately one third of the artworks were made of epoxy resins, despite the fact that their use was considered less suitable at that time compared to unsaturated polyester resins. For laboratory testing, model samples were prepared from selected unsaturated polyester (UP) and epoxy (EP) resins. The influence of abrasive blasting with different media and the application of selected organic solvents on the surface properties of the resins was studied. Laser confocal microscopy revealed that resin hardness affects the surface topography after blasting, with the lowest roughness observed after blasting with limestone. Among the solvents tested, acetone was found to be the most aggressive toward the polymer matrix. The findings contribute to the optimisation of conservation strategies for laminated artworks exposed in outdoor environments.