Abstract

A number of comparative experiments have been done for the first time on the surface cleaning of the same samples of works of art made from stone with the radiation of two types of lasers: Nd:YAG and TEA CO₂. The results showed that, when marble and plaster are irradiated at a wavelength of 10.6μm, unlike 1.06μm, the surface-yellowing effect that accompanies cleaning is absent. Visual monitoring, appraisal by restorers, and measurement of the optical transmission of the marble in the cleaned regions confirmed that, despite the strong absorption of marble in the 10.6μm region, cleaning is not accompanied by surface damage of the sample when the parameters of the CO₂ laser are chosen correctly. As part of this project, an attempt was made to remove specific contaminants (such as cement, resin, and rust) from a marble surface, the cleaning of which causes a number of difficulties among restorers when traditional methods are used.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

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