Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling

Mechanical methods used for cleaning unpolychromed wooden heritage in conservation-restoration rely on procedures that entail pressure and friction, potentially leading to erosion or material loss on the treated surface. In addition, certain methods, such as the use of sponges or erasers, very often...

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Autores: Nualart i Torroja, Anna, Pitarch Martí, África, Bautista Morenilla, Iris, Iglesias Campos, M. A. (Manuel Ángel)
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/225358
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225358
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Química de la fusta
Conservació i restauració d'obres d'art
Policromia
Wood chemistry
Conservation and restoration of art
Polychromy
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spelling Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceilingNualart i Torroja, AnnaPitarch Martí, ÁfricaBautista Morenilla, IrisIglesias Campos, M. A. (Manuel Ángel)Química de la fustaConservació i restauració d'obres d'artPolicromiaWood chemistryConservation and restoration of artPolychromyMechanical methods used for cleaning unpolychromed wooden heritage in conservation-restoration rely on procedures that entail pressure and friction, potentially leading to erosion or material loss on the treated surface. In addition, certain methods, such as the use of sponges or erasers, very often leave residues that could affect the long-term conservation of wood due to their chemical composition. The aim of this work is to assess the feasibility of using microblasting with powdered lignocellulosic particles for cleaning unpolychromed wood on a heritage artwork. The investigation aims to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of this technique as a sensitive and sustainable alternative to the most common techniques used by conservator-restorers for unpolychromed wood cleaning. The cleaning results of microblasting of lignocellulosic particles are qualitatively compared to those achieved by traditional dry-cleaning techniques on wood. This study is based on previous research that examined the effects of this technique on non-heritage wooden samples using hazelnut and almond shells, cork and pure cellulose powdered particles. The investigation aimed to assess potential morphological surface changes and to determine the degree of cleaning qualitatively without causing damage to the wood surface. Additionally, the study allowed the development of a cleaning protocol by selecting the specific particle size, and by adjusting pressure, an- gle, distance and time to surface soiling characteristics and wood typology according to the limited bib- liographic references available. From these results, tests were conducted on the back side of a wooden joint cover dating back to between the 14th and 16th centuries from one of the ceilings of the Monastery of Santa María de Pedralbes. The joint cover was weakened and affected by fungi and woodworm after centuries of outdoor climate exposure. To evaluate the cleaning efficiency and the resulting effects on wood, the surface was analysed by digital optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy before and after cleaning. Star diagrams were also made to assess the fulfilment of the cleaning criteria selected for the study. Results indicate that when the technique is applied properly, an appropriate cleaning level can be achieved without compromising the fragile treated surface and with negligible presence of residues. Therefore, this approach emerges as a promising and environmentally friendly technique, respectful to the integrity of the heritage wooden artworks.Elsevier2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/225358Articles publicats en revistes (Arts Conservació-Restauració)reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UBinstname:Universidad de BarcelonaInglésReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2025.12.012Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2026, vol. 77, p. 379-390https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2025.12.012cc-by-nc-nd (c) Nualart i Torroja, Anna et al., 2026http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/2253582026-05-27T06:46:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
title Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
spellingShingle Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
Nualart i Torroja, Anna
Química de la fusta
Conservació i restauració d'obres d'art
Policromia
Wood chemistry
Conservation and restoration of art
Polychromy
title_short Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
title_full Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
title_fullStr Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
title_full_unstemmed Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
title_sort Microblasting of powdered lignocellulosic particles: Cleaning of a wooden joint cover of a medieval coffered ceiling
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Nualart i Torroja, Anna
Pitarch Martí, África
Bautista Morenilla, Iris
Iglesias Campos, M. A. (Manuel Ángel)
author Nualart i Torroja, Anna
author_facet Nualart i Torroja, Anna
Pitarch Martí, África
Bautista Morenilla, Iris
Iglesias Campos, M. A. (Manuel Ángel)
author_role author
author2 Pitarch Martí, África
Bautista Morenilla, Iris
Iglesias Campos, M. A. (Manuel Ángel)
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Química de la fusta
Conservació i restauració d'obres d'art
Policromia
Wood chemistry
Conservation and restoration of art
Polychromy
topic Química de la fusta
Conservació i restauració d'obres d'art
Policromia
Wood chemistry
Conservation and restoration of art
Polychromy
description Mechanical methods used for cleaning unpolychromed wooden heritage in conservation-restoration rely on procedures that entail pressure and friction, potentially leading to erosion or material loss on the treated surface. In addition, certain methods, such as the use of sponges or erasers, very often leave residues that could affect the long-term conservation of wood due to their chemical composition. The aim of this work is to assess the feasibility of using microblasting with powdered lignocellulosic particles for cleaning unpolychromed wood on a heritage artwork. The investigation aims to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of this technique as a sensitive and sustainable alternative to the most common techniques used by conservator-restorers for unpolychromed wood cleaning. The cleaning results of microblasting of lignocellulosic particles are qualitatively compared to those achieved by traditional dry-cleaning techniques on wood. This study is based on previous research that examined the effects of this technique on non-heritage wooden samples using hazelnut and almond shells, cork and pure cellulose powdered particles. The investigation aimed to assess potential morphological surface changes and to determine the degree of cleaning qualitatively without causing damage to the wood surface. Additionally, the study allowed the development of a cleaning protocol by selecting the specific particle size, and by adjusting pressure, an- gle, distance and time to surface soiling characteristics and wood typology according to the limited bib- liographic references available. From these results, tests were conducted on the back side of a wooden joint cover dating back to between the 14th and 16th centuries from one of the ceilings of the Monastery of Santa María de Pedralbes. The joint cover was weakened and affected by fungi and woodworm after centuries of outdoor climate exposure. To evaluate the cleaning efficiency and the resulting effects on wood, the surface was analysed by digital optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy before and after cleaning. Star diagrams were also made to assess the fulfilment of the cleaning criteria selected for the study. Results indicate that when the technique is applied properly, an appropriate cleaning level can be achieved without compromising the fragile treated surface and with negligible presence of residues. Therefore, this approach emerges as a promising and environmentally friendly technique, respectful to the integrity of the heritage wooden artworks.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225358
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225358
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2025.12.012
Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2026, vol. 77, p. 379-390
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2025.12.012
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Nualart i Torroja, Anna et al., 2026
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by-nc-nd (c) Nualart i Torroja, Anna et al., 2026
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Articles publicats en revistes (Arts Conservació-Restauració)
reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
instname:Universidad de Barcelona
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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