Evaluation of Sericin as Asian Painting Media Consolidant

• Main Authors: Hsiao-han Fang, 方筱涵
• Other Authors: Fei-wen Tsai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/91802033725361483630

碩士 === 國立臺南藝術大學 === 博物館學與古物維護研究所 === 104 === Silk is one of the oldest animal fibers used by human beings. The raw silk produced by the silkworm is mainly composed by the sericin and fibroin proteins. This raw material would later go through a “degumming process” which separates the water-soluble sericin and the insoluble fibroin. Contrary to the long history of the silk fibers in the textile industry, the focus on sericin was not much until its first isolation in 1865. Due to its favorable characteristics such as moisture absorbance, UV resistance, and the adhesive capability, the sericin is now used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics products. In the art conservation field, the sericin is also a promising candidate of adhesive material. Due to the same origin, it was thought to be compatible with the treatments on silk textile, such as the facing of surface painting or the consolidation of fabrics. However, only a few literatures were discussed on the sericin application on conservation, and the result properties were still ambiguous. Thus, a further evaluation would be necessary for the further use of sericin. In this study, the effects of sericin as an adhesive for consolidation treatments would be discussed. The sericin was compared with traditional natural adhesives, such as gelatin and isinglass, which generally used on the Asian painting conservation. The experiments were performed on the silk textile, Xuan paper, and the glazed tile. After applying the adhesives, samples were send for the accelerated aging. In the end, the aged sample were analyzed by optical, mechanical, chemical, and micro-structural examination. The result of experiment shows that the advantage of sericin as a consolidant is more alkaline than others because of extracting and purifying process. The permeability of sericin is better to promote the lowest gloss value; in contrast, gloss of the impermeable tile sample applied sericin solution has much higher reflection than others. However, it is also observed that the sericin sample is more yellowing and its pigment peels off earlier from the colorimetric assay and the condition of media. Therefore, the present research showed that the effect of sericin as a consolidant of friable media does not surpass gelatin and isinglass, but described above, the characteristics of sericin such as water-soluble and permeability properties are superior. It may be used on other application on the conservation.