Methods, Chemicals, Equipment and Materials Used to Restore the Painting of Joseph Burton X-ray: Conservators X-ray paintings to determine the types of paper, materials, early sketches and changes to the composition of the artwork. The process also detects the minerals and elements that makes up the paint. X-rays use a beam of electromagnetic radiation to view the internal form of the painting. UV Scan: Ultraviolet (UV) scans use UV light to determine if an artwork has been restored and what part of the work is original. UV light can reveal overpainting, repairs and even signatures on paintings that is no visible in normal light. Conservators usually use a wavelength between 365-390 nanometers in which any areas of repair appear darker because the light is absorbed. Sodium citrate: Sodium citrate is a salt of citric acid that is highly soluble in water. Solutions of sodium citrate are used to clean surfaces of paintings. Acetone: Acetone is a colorless and flammable liquid that is used for cleaning paintings and other historic objects. It is a chemical compound with the formula (CH3)2CO. In paint restoration, acetone is used to remove an old varnish which usually reveals the accurate paint colors because it also removes the top level of dirt form a painting.
Paint Pigments: Paint pigments are finely divided, insoluble substances which imparts color to the material to which it is added. In some cases the types of pigments used can help determine the date of a painting or where it was created. Modostuc: Modostuc is a fine putty made of calcium carbonate that is used to fill in the cracks or holes of a painting. Carbonate: Calcium carbonate is a compound with the chemical formula CaCO3. The compound is used in mixtures of paint pigments and other materials used to restore damaged areas of paintings. Poly-vinyl acetate: Poly-vinyl acetate is a synthetic polymer with the formula (C4H6O2)n. It is often known as glue for wood and is used to make flexible paints for restoring paintings. Varnish: Varnish is a solution of a transparent resin that dries and hardens when it is spread out in a thin film. It provides a protective coating to the paint underneath which is often removed and then replaced during restoration.