Dear Patricia, I investigated Museum Gel as part of my MSc dissertation in 2012 and in short it is a polysiloxane or silicone oil. FTIR spectroscopy provided some interesting insights into its chemical structure and also suggested it may contain dibenzylidene sorbitol, a common nucleating agent used to clarify gels. I'd be curious to see if anyone has done further analysis of its composition, so I hope you get some good responses.
I've never had to remove it from something porous but I suspect you are in for a challenge given the nature of silicone oils and their inherent capacity for soaking in and staining objects that aren't glazed or coated. Good luck! All the best, Jenny Mathiasson Conservator Clifton Conservation Service Rotherham, United Kingdom > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 12:49:35 +0800 > From: "Patricia Moncrieff" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Subject: [Consdistlist] Museum Gel > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > I have been trying to find out the chemical composition of Museum Gel. > Suppliers of this material do not indicate what it is made from. > > A client has had this substance impregnate a very expensive Italian linen > fabric and is trying to remove it. > > My understanding is that Museum Gel is a polymer (possibly made from boric > acid and silicone). > > Would really appreciate any knowledge regarding this substance and how to > remove it from a textile. > > > > Patricia Moncrieff > > Conservation Consultant, Specialising in Textiles > > Western Australia > > ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
