Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup.
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1. RE: Museum Wax
2. RE: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
3. MFT Animation
4. Registration closing soon - Trends in Heritage Science conference
5. Online Session | Master in Conservation and Restoration @ NOVA School of
Science and Technology, Portugal
6. Icon Dynamic Objects Group - Big Stuff 2025, 24 June online meeting
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1.From: Linda Roundhill
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 5:59 AM
Subject: RE: Museum Wax
Message:
I don't know what is in Museum Wax, but a client of mine used the clear Museum
Gel on his ceramics and over time a silicone-like oil sweated out and stained
the porous parts of the ceramic fairly permanently and made it mighty difficult
to treat the pieces when one of them broke. Beware Museum Gel ! I wish we
could pressure them to they would stop selling it or at least remove "Museum"
from its name.
Linda R
------------------------------
Linda Roundhill
Conservator/Owner
Art & Antiquities Conservation, LLC
Everett
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2025 09:00
From: K.E. van Lookeren Campagne
Subject: Museum Wax
Dear Colleagues
Has anyone undertaken research into Museum Wax an/or Museum Gel? In the US
it is also known as Quakehold and in Europe it is sold under the name
Crystaline Clear Museum Wax. As it is used to secure museum objects (often on
other museum objects) it could be presumed that the composition is known and
some research has been undertaken. I can only find vague references to it being
a mixture of microcrystalline and petroleum wax. Any information or
experience would be helpful.
Kate van Lookeren Campagne Amsterdam University Department Conservation
and Restoration of Cultural Heritage [email protected]
<[email protected]>
2.From: Linda Roundhill
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 6:00 AM
Subject: RE: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
Message:
Patricia,
As is true of most things, Quaternary Ammonium chlorides are not magical and
have their drawbacks. However, I have been using them to prevent green and
black biofilms from growing on marble and soft limestones for 9+ years. I find
it greatly reduces the amount of potentially harmful scrubbing of objects, and
also reduces the amount of pressure washing needed for decorative architectural
limestone. Once the surfaces are clean, a light spraying with the quats on a
dry day twice per year seems to be enough to keep them looking good. So far I
have not detected resistant grow-backs, just occasional missed spots showing up
pretty clearly for spot-cleaning. It is probably less effective on harder,
less porous stones because the amount absorbed is less.
Notes: Rinse or cover sensitive plants nearby. My gut feeling is that it is
NOT suitable for metal objects at all.
The health effect studies mentioned are obviously concerning, so adequate
protective gear is strongly advised. Incidentally, benzalkonium chloride is
found broadly in topical pharmaceuticals, hospital cleaning agents and in OTC's
like eye drops, so lets hope it is not as toxic as its cousins have been
suspected to be!
LInda
------------------------------
Linda Roundhill
Conservator/Owner
Art & Antiquities Conservation, LLC
Everett
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-12-2025 05:09
From: Patricia Mestre
Subject: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
Good morning everyone,
After having read all the replies to the initial email very carefully, as well
as the associated links, I still do not understand whether the product D/2 can
(or cannot) be considered a biocidal product when used in conservation and
restoration actions, particularly on calcareous stone materials.
Could you help me clarify this doubt? If not, what are the alternatives?
Many thanks,
Patrícia Mestre
Conservator-Restorer
Portugal
------------------------------
Patricia Mestre
Director of Conservation and Restoration
ERA Arqueologia SA
Cruz Quebrada
Portugal
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2025 00:23
From: Judy Jacob
Subject: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
James' D/2 query has resulted in many interesting posts and I'd love to respond
to all of them. Instead, I will focus on the study cited and the claims made
on the website of D/2 Biological Solution™ (D/2).
>From 2004-2011, the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation
>Technology and Training (NCPTT) performed a series of tests to evaluate
>"commercially available cleaners for the removal of soiling and biological
>growth from Federally-issued headstones;" their report is provided as a link
>on D/2's website.
The "biological growth" of the study is better described as a subaerial biofilm
(SAB or "biofilm").
In the last two decades, our understanding of biofilms has greatly advanced and
I'm surprised that NCPTT's report is still used to guide present-day treatments
of gravestones. Much has changed since the study was undertaken, both in the
design of studies and in the methods used to visualize and characterize
biofilms.
Today, the report is most useful as a historical document. It records an
early-21st-century understanding of biofilms on marble gravestones, the notion
that biofilms can be removed with a product, and the means used by one
laboratory to characterize the behavior of biofilms.
What needs underscoring in James' post is the fact that the National Park
Service does not recommend products. The website for D/2 quotes Executive
Order 13287: ". . . The best-practice recommendations resulted in NCA's
[National Cemetery Association] determination to use the preferred cleaner, D/2
Biological Solution," and omits the words that follow: "or products with
similar active ingredients."
NCPTT's report states (page 3): "Biocidal cleaners which contain quaternary
ammonium compounds [quats], like D/2 Biological Solution manufactured by
Sunshine Makers, Enviro Klean® BioWash®, Modec MDF-500 or other cleaners, are
preferred products for cleaning marble headstones." These products are three
of many that contain quats.
As far as I know, no one product has been shown to outperform another and, in
the end, biofilms are outperforming all our removal attempts.
Judy
------------------------------
Judy Jacob
Senior Conservator
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Historic Architecture, Conservation, and Engineering Center
202-256-9152
Original Message:
Sent: 05-27-2025 08:40
From: James Moss
Subject: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
Dear Colleagues,
I am a Cemetery Commissioner in my small Town (I am also a retired
Conservator of Clocks). Members of my Committee have suggested using a
commercial product called D2 to clean the gravestones of lichens and
accumulated atmospheric "dirt". I've looked at D2's WEB site and their product
SDS (mixture contains trisodium nitrilotriacetate and sodium metasilicate,
anhydrous which are considered hazardous chemicals to humans).
Their WEB site [ https://www.d2bio.com/ <https://www.d2bio.com/> ] claims the
following:
"National Parks Study Recommends D/2 for Government Headstone Cleaning" :
Researchers studied five different cleaners on stones located in five different
climates at locations across the United States. Microbiologists at Harvard
University evaluated samples for regrowth of microorganisms including bacteria,
fungi, and algae. D/2's quaternary ammonium solution came out on top! [Note:
any mention of ammonia or its relations immediately causes my antennae to arise
because it can cause Stress Corrosion Cracking of brass, a metal that 80% of
clocks are made with]
AND:
The National Cemetery Administration now uses D/2.
"The NCA entered into an agreement with the National Center for Preservation
Technology and Training, NPS, to evaluate marble cleaners in an effort to
minimize damage to historic headstones. The 3-phase study began in 2004 and was
completed in 2011. The best - practice recommendations resulted in NCA's
determination to use the preferred cleaner, D/2 Biological Solution..." (Page 3)
AND:
"No Other Solution is more trusted by conservators"
Cleaning of Stone is not my specialty, I have not been trained to do stone
treatments.
I know nothing about the effects of using the wrong chemical solutions or
procedures on stone. All that I am aware of is that stone is porous and
solutions can penetrate the stone and could cause long term degradation. I will
attempt to contact a Conservator whose specialty is the cleaning of stone. In
the meantime, I turn to you as a font of knowledge.....
My first question to you is:
Is using this commercial solution harmful to the stones that are commonly
used as cemetery markers such as slate, granite, and marble (aluminum and brass
are also used but as far as I know, D2 is not used to clean these metals)?
My second question is:
If D2 is not acceptable are there other safe methods that could be used by
non-Conservators or Citizen Volunteers that would not cause short or long term
harm to these objects?
Your insights, help, and guidance would be most appreciated.
Sincerely
Jim Moss,
Horological Conservator,
AIC PA retired
3.From: Vincent Beltran
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 10:08 AM
Subject: MFT Animation
Message:
Happy to finally share the Getty Conservation Institute's animation about the
microfading tester or MFT, an analytical technique to assess the light
sensitivity of heritage objects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qc3bSTldOc
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qc3bSTldOc>
Drawing inspiration from fond memories of Schoolhouse Rock!, we wanted to use
animation as a fun and accessible way of "illuminating" the motivations behind
the MFT, how the technique works, and its potential impact on exhibition
development and lighting policy. We hope you find this to be a useful tool that
supports communication between the various disciplines involved in collection
care. And please feel free to share with your colleagues!
If you'd like to learn more about MFT, we invite you to join the Microfading
Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG), which is supported by AIC's
Preventive Care Network: https://tinyurl.com/5b6ash6n
<https://tinyurl.com/5b6ash6n>
------------------------------
Vincent Laudato Beltran
Scientist, Getty Conservation Institute
Chair, MFT-IDG
[email protected]
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4.From: Caroline Peach
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 10:09 AM
Subject: Registration closing soon - Trends in Heritage Science conference
Message: Dear Colleagues
Registration closes on 20th June for the Trends in Heritage Science
<https://www.heritagescienceforum.org.uk/what-we-do/nhsf-conference-trends-in-heritage-science>
conference.
Date: 10th July 2025
Location: University College London, Engineering Front Building, Malet Place,
London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom.
Please join us to explore the role of heritage science research and innovation
in addressing global challenges through three themes:
· The economic value of heritage science
· Sustainable historic buildings
· Digital innovation in heritage science
Our interactive programme includes presentations and discussion sessions, a
wide-ranging poster session, opportunities to network with our exhibitors
<https://www.heritagescienceforum.org.uk/what-we-do/exhibitors-sponsors-2025>
and three parallel workshops
<https://www.heritagescienceforum.org.uk/what-we-do/workshops>:
· Lifecyle Assessments to Measure the Impact of Heritage Science
· RICHeS: Empowering Conservation and Heritage Science through a
Distributed Research Infrastructure
· Speed Mentoring for Emerging Professionals
Registration is open until 20th June 2025. Please book here
<https://www.heritagescienceforum.org.uk/what-we-do/programme-register-2025>.
Caroline Peach
On behalf of National Heritage Science Forum
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Caroline Peach
Consultant
London
United Kingdom
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5.From: Inês Coutinho
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 10:10 AM
Subject: Online Session | Master in Conservation and Restoration @ NOVA School
of Science and Technology, Portugal
Message:
The Scientific Commission of the Master's in Conservation and Restoration at
NOVA FCT is hosting an online information session to present the program and
answer your questions.
Date: June 20th
Time: 4:00 PM (Lisbon time)
Where: Zoom (link will be sent closer to the meeting's date)
Interested in joining? Please register to attend! Please fill in the
GoogleForms here: https://forms.gle/1F2JgaDb1mxTSpyYA
<https://forms.gle/1F2JgaDb1mxTSpyYA>
--
Inês Coutinho
Assistant Professor
Department of Conservation and Restoration, NOVA FCT (www.dcr.fct.unl.pt
<http://www.dcr.fct.unl.pt>)
Researcher at VICARTE (www.vicarte.org <http://www.vicarte.org>)
tel/fax: + 351 21 294 83 22
Portugal
6.From: Francoise Collanges
Posted: Monday June 16, 2025 1:56 PM
Subject: Icon Dynamic Objects Group - Big Stuff 2025, 24 June online meeting
Message:
Dear all,
Join Icon Dynamic Objects Group and members of the Big Stuff team, on Tuesday
24 June, 10-11 am BST, to talk about the upcoming Big Stuff Conference, taking
place in Ghent (Belgium) in October 2025, about conserving skills and machines.
Big Stuff Heritage conference has been on since 2004. We are keen to make you
discover what is on the program this year and discuss our common interests in
dynamic objects and industrial heritage.
This online event is free, you can register here:
https://www.icon.org.uk/events/icon-dynamic-objects-group-big-stuff-2025.html
------------------------------
Francoise Collanges
Chair of Icon's Dynamic Objects Group
Consultant in conservation
Ixelles
Belgium
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