Comparative in Situ Study of Nanolime, Ethyl Silicate and Acrylic Resin for Consolidation of Wall Paintings with High Water and Salt Contents at the Chapter Hall of Chartres Cathedral

Acrylic resin emerged as the most effective consolidant for wall paintings with high water and salt content, demonstrating significant consolidation without altering water absorption or repellency, despite minor white spot formation. Nanolime failed to improve superficial cohesion, leaving persistent whitish lime spots, while ethyl silicate showed no measurable consolidating effect but retained hydrophobicity over 15 months. The study, conducted on the 14th-century wall paintings in Chartres Cathedral's Chapter Hall, employed comparative in situ testing of these materials, with long-term monitoring of temperature and humidity to assess their compatibility and durability.

Normand, L., Duchêne, S., Vergès-Belmin, V., Dandrel, C., Giovannacci, D., & Nowik, W. (2020). Comparative in Situ Study of Nanolime, Ethyl Silicate and Acrylic Resin for Consolidation of Wall Paintings with High Water and Salt Contents at the Chapter Hall of Chartres Cathedral. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 14(7), 1120–1133. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2020.1731628