ABSTRACT
Paints make an important contribution to both the preservation and aesthetics of many different types of artifacts. They are applied to an enormous range of substrates ranging from various metals, woods, and plaster to paper. Traditionally many types of paints have been formulated to consist of solid pigment particles and “binders,” dispersed in volatile non-aqueous solvents. After application, the solvent evaporates leaving the binder to coat the substrate with a coherent film containing the dispersed pigment. However, such solvents are usually classified as “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs), which are known to represent environmental hazards. Some solvents are known carcinogens, the vapors of others are known greenhouse gases, and most contribute to the formation of excessive tropospheric ozone levels (through an ultraviolet-induced chain of reactions with oxides of nitrogen). In consequence, legislation in many countries has been introduced that seeks to minimize the use of VOCs [1].
