Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification
The most widespread varnish formulations used by master violin-makers of the “Italian Golden Age”, including Antonio Stradivari, were based on mixtures of siccative oils (e.g., linseed oil) and natural resins (e.g., colophony). Similar formulations are still used for the finish of contemporary instr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3652 |
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| author | Maduka L. Weththimuni Giacomo Fiocco Chiara Milanese Alberto Spinella Maria Luisa Saladino Marco Malagodi Maurizio Licchelli |
| author_facet | Maduka L. Weththimuni Giacomo Fiocco Chiara Milanese Alberto Spinella Maria Luisa Saladino Marco Malagodi Maurizio Licchelli |
| author_sort | Maduka L. Weththimuni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The most widespread varnish formulations used by master violin-makers of the “Italian Golden Age”, including Antonio Stradivari, were based on mixtures of siccative oils (e.g., linseed oil) and natural resins (e.g., colophony). Similar formulations are still used for the finish of contemporary instruments. Although most precious violins made by Stradivari and other Cremonese Masters are kept in museums, several instruments are still played and their finish may undergo deterioration due to contact with the players. Moreover, the decay of the traditional varnish may occur due to mechanical stress and natural aging caused by environmental agents (e.g., exposure to uncontrolled light, humidity, and temperature changes). The main aim of this research work is to investigate the possible improvement of varnish resistance to the decay induced by different aging processes. For this purpose, the traditional varnish (linseed oil/colophony 3:1 <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) was recreated in the laboratory following an ancient recipe and then it was functionalized with a cross-linking agent (3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, GLYMO). Plain and functionalized varnishes underwent artificial aging (UV light, temperature, and humidity variations), and their properties were comparatively studied using different techniques. All the results suggest that the functionalized varnish displays improved resistance to the aging process and particularly enhanced photostability and increased hardness (resistance to scratches). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:14:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8545f4269e14102a34d38b55083e095 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:14:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8545f4269e14102a34d38b55083e0952023-11-19T08:44:37ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-09-011517365210.3390/polym15173652Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical ModificationMaduka L. Weththimuni0Giacomo Fiocco1Chiara Milanese2Alberto Spinella3Maria Luisa Saladino4Marco Malagodi5Maurizio Licchelli6Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyResearch Center for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CISRiC), University of Pavia, Via A. Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyAdvanced Technologies Network Center, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 18, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, ItalyResearch Center for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CISRiC), University of Pavia, Via A. Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, ItalyThe most widespread varnish formulations used by master violin-makers of the “Italian Golden Age”, including Antonio Stradivari, were based on mixtures of siccative oils (e.g., linseed oil) and natural resins (e.g., colophony). Similar formulations are still used for the finish of contemporary instruments. Although most precious violins made by Stradivari and other Cremonese Masters are kept in museums, several instruments are still played and their finish may undergo deterioration due to contact with the players. Moreover, the decay of the traditional varnish may occur due to mechanical stress and natural aging caused by environmental agents (e.g., exposure to uncontrolled light, humidity, and temperature changes). The main aim of this research work is to investigate the possible improvement of varnish resistance to the decay induced by different aging processes. For this purpose, the traditional varnish (linseed oil/colophony 3:1 <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) was recreated in the laboratory following an ancient recipe and then it was functionalized with a cross-linking agent (3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, GLYMO). Plain and functionalized varnishes underwent artificial aging (UV light, temperature, and humidity variations), and their properties were comparatively studied using different techniques. All the results suggest that the functionalized varnish displays improved resistance to the aging process and particularly enhanced photostability and increased hardness (resistance to scratches).https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3652Stradivariviolin varnisheslinseed oil/colophonySEM-EDSNMR |
| spellingShingle | Maduka L. Weththimuni Giacomo Fiocco Chiara Milanese Alberto Spinella Maria Luisa Saladino Marco Malagodi Maurizio Licchelli Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification Polymers Stradivari violin varnishes linseed oil/colophony SEM-EDS NMR |
| title | Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification |
| title_full | Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification |
| title_fullStr | Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification |
| title_short | Stradivari’s Varnish Revisited: Feature Improvements Using Chemical Modification |
| title_sort | stradivari s varnish revisited feature improvements using chemical modification |
| topic | Stradivari violin varnishes linseed oil/colophony SEM-EDS NMR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3652 |
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