Print Email Facebook Twitter The distribution and transport of water in oil paintings Title The distribution and transport of water in oil paintings: A numerical moisture diffusion model Author Duivenvoorden, Jorien R. (Rijksmuseum; Universiteit van Amsterdam) Kramer, Rick P. (Eindhoven University of Technology) van Eikema Hommes, M.H. (TU Delft Team Joris Dik) Iedema, Piet D. (Universiteit van Amsterdam) Hermans, Joen J. (Rijksmuseum; Universiteit van Amsterdam) Keune, Katrien (Rijksmuseum; Universiteit van Amsterdam) Date 2023 Abstract Oil paintings are complex, multi-layered systems that are prone to chemical degradation. While it is increasingly recognised that water plays an important role in these degradation reactions, little is known about moisture concentrations in oil paint systems and their temporal variation in response to fluctuating ambient air humidity. This knowledge is necessary to further preventive conservation, specifically to establish optimal environmental conditions to safeguard works of art for future generations. We developed a transient one-dimensional moisture transport model based on Fickian diffusion enabling the integration of experimentally recorded relative humidity data. Moisture sorption and transport data for painting materials have been reviewed from literature showing that each component of a painting has rather distinct properties. Including the properties of the individual layers enabled predicting the behaviour of a multi-layered painting system. A sensitivity study indicated that the response of a multilayer is determined by the combination of diffusion coefficients, isotherm shapes, maximum water contents, layer thicknesses, period of RH fluctuation and stacking order of the layers. Finally, the model was employed to investigate a case study of 18th-century painted wall hangings in a historic house to illustrate the insights that can be gained from this approach and the types of conservation-related questions that can be answered. Subject Fickian diffusionMoisture transportNumerical modellingOil paintingPreventive conservationRelative humidity To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:579ddab5-03fb-4abe-9502-bb74f6a1adc6 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2022.123682 ISSN 0017-9310 Source International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 202 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2023 Jorien R. Duivenvoorden, Rick P. Kramer, M.H. van Eikema Hommes, Piet D. Iedema, Joen J. Hermans, Katrien Keune Files PDF 1_s2.0_S0017931022011504_main.pdf 3.39 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:579ddab5-03fb-4abe-9502-bb74f6a1adc6/datastream/OBJ/view