Solubilization of Acrylic and Vinyl Polymers in Nanocontainer Solutions. Application of Microemulsions and Micelles to Cultural Heritage Conservation

This study reports the physicochemical investigation of oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions and micellar solutions formulated to solubilize acrylic and vinyl polymers. Three different four-component systems formed from (i) water, p-xylene, sodium dodecylsulfate, and 1-pentanol; (ii) water, propylene carbonate, sodium dodecylsulfate, and 1-pentanol; and (iii) water, p-xylene, Tween-20, and 1,2-ethandiol, and one five-component system (water, p-xylene, commercial nitro-diluent, sodium dodecylsulfate, and 1-pentanol) have been studied. The o/w microemulsions or micellar solutions (system ii) have been characterized by quasi-elastic light scattering experiments to obtain the hydrodynamic radius and the polydispersity of the microemulsion or micelle droplets. The application of these microemulsion or micellar systems as solubilizing agents for acrylic and vinyl polymers from works of art (mainly wall paintings) and monuments (stones) has been investigated. Acrylic and vinyl polymers have been extensively used in...