Breakthrough in historical artwork preservation: Innovative, rice noodle-esque adhesive restores peace among art conservators.
After a period of concern and worry, art conservators are now breathing a sigh of relief as researchers from the University of Akron (UA) and New York University's (NYU) Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts have developed a new, safer version of the adhesive Beva 371. The updated adhesive, now called Beva 371 Akron, offers a more stable and less toxic alternative to the previous formula, which had faced supply-chain issues due to the discontinuation of key ingredients Laropal K-80 in 2005 and Cellolyn 21E in 2020.
Beva 371 is an abbreviation for Berger's Ethylene Vinyl Acetate 371, named after Austrian American conservator Gustav Berger, who died in 2006. He introduced the adhesive in 1972, and it quickly became popular due to its effectiveness in lining historical canvases. "Without these key resins, a major resource for the field of art conservation was lost," highlighted Ali Dhinojwala, a professor from the College of Engineering and Polymer Science at UA.
The Getty Foundation's Conserving Canvas project provided a research grant to NYU, and UA's cutting-edge polymer science and plastics engineering program played a crucial role in the development of the new adhesive. The new Beva 371 Akron is phthalate-free, offering a safer alternative for handlers, and comes in three different forms to cater to various conservation needs.
The adhesive is available as a pre-mixed, heat-seal variant similar to the original formula, a new solvent-free solid formulation that is easier to transport once cut into pellets, and a soon-to-be-released, pure adhesive, and solvent-free variant. Researchers conducted rigorous performance testing in collaboration with leading experts to ensure the new formulation meets the needs of the conservation community, providing conservators with safer and more effective tools for their work.
Conservators in Europe worked with the university researchers to develop Beva 371 Akron, with Paul Ackroyd, a conservator at the National Gallery in London, praising its advances in materials innovation and sustainability. The project represents a shining example of successful collaboration in the art conservation field. The researchers will present their findings at the American Institute of Conservation's yearly conference in Minneapolis this week.
- The modern art scene may soon witness a brighter future, as a renowned museum could possibly showcase the new Beva 371 Akron, a safer and more stable alternative for fine art conservation, especially for delicate paintings.
- With growing emphasis on health-and-wellness and environmental consciousness, the medical-conditions related to handling toxic art adhesives have been a significant concern for conservators, but the development of Beva 371 Akron, a phthalate-free adhesive, offers a promising solution.
- The new Beva 371 Akron, now available in three forms, not only caters to various conservation needs in art museums but may also inspire advancements in technology, enabling future development of similar materials for other scientific applications.
- As technology continues to advance and collaboration among experts grows, combined efforts in fields such as health-and-wellness, technology, and art conservation may result in exciting discoveries, not unlike the efforts that led to the development of the new and improved Beva 371 Akron.
