Professional paper
An Attempt to Clean with Laser Marble Roman Sculpture No. 12 from Augusteum in Narona
Ivo Donelli
Abstract
Laser cleaning is a most modern procedure where laser beams of certain frequency are used to remove harmful layers o? the stone surface. Laser can remove dirt of various origins such as black film deposited from atmosphere, layers of corrosion, biological layers, and graffiti. The level of cleaning effect depends on the choice of wave length, density of energy, and length of impulse.
The advantages of laser cleaning are: no physical contact, direct and precise control, selectiveness - self-limiting, localness, ecologically clean procedure and complementarity. In modern Europe there are various types of laser di?ering from each other in the light source, wave length, delivered energy and length of impulse. The use of laser is not the only way of cleaning stone surfaces/areas, but a combination of other techniques will give optimum results.
An attempt to remove with laser the calcite film from the marble sculpture No. 12, Augusteum - Narona, had no expected result. Some of the factors why this method should be given up are: the limited possibility of reading colours and shades of calcite layers, excessive soaking of marble surface in water, the price of instruments and speed of cleaning. Restorers of the Archaeological Museum, Split, have decided to continue cleaning the sculptures by previous methods and programme that has given good results so far.
Keywords
laser; layers of corrosion; marble
Hrčak ID:
2638
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2005.
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