Le laser comme moyen de dégagement de produits de corrosion sur un objet archéologique : le cas de la dorure sur alliage cuivreux

• Main Author: Valentine Brodard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Association CeROArt 2012-06-01
• Series: CeROArt : Conservation, Exposition, Restauration d'Objets d'Art
• Subjects: cuprite; laser; gilding; archaeological object; copper alloy; Nd:YAG
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/ceroart/2571

The removal of corrosion products from archaeological gilded copper alloys lead to high risks of damage. A mechanical cleaning may induce abrasions of the gilding when a chemical cleaning might increase the corrosion processes. In this thesis, we have tested the use of laser as an alternative for the removal of corrosion products on gilded copper alloy. Three lasers Nd:YAG  were used during our tests : a laser Short free running, a laser Long Q-switch and a laser Q-switch. The tests have been done on gilded copper samples prepared after two pre-Columbian masks. The results prove that lasers don’t permit the removal of corrosion products without damage on the gilded surface. However a laser with a faster pulse like a femtosecond laser may allow the cleaning of gilded copper without any damage