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Review
. 2023 Nov 7;15(22):4348.
doi: 10.3390/polym15224348.

Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Paints: A Literature Review of Material Properties, Ageing Characteristics, and Conservation Challenges

Morana Novak  1 , Bronwyn Ormsby  1
Affiliations
Review

Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Paints: A Literature Review of Material Properties, Ageing Characteristics, and Conservation Challenges

Morana Novak et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Since their development in the 1950s, poly(vinyl acetate) [PVAc] paints (also known as vinyl) have been used by many artists, most notably in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom; they are also used globally as a common binder for house paints. However, only a relatively limited number of heritage scientific studies have focused on vinyl paints. Consequently, many critical aspects of this material, such as the degradation processes, variations in paint formulations, and responses to conservation treatments, remain largely understudied. This article aims to summarise the available relevant information on poly(vinyl acetate) paints from both the scientific and the conservation practice perspectives. The article provides a brief overview of the development of poly(vinyl acetate) paints as artist-grade and household products and the known differences in their formulations. It also focuses on poly(vinyl acetate) ageing behaviour, the physicochemical properties, the recent scientific research on poly(vinyl acetate) material characterisation and degradation, and the main conservation issues regarding these paints, such as those relating to cleaning treatments.

Keywords: cleaning; degradation; modern paints; paint properties; poly(vinyl acetate); vinyl.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Paintings including the use of poly(vinyl acetate) paints: (a) Bridget Riley, Hesitate, 1964. Emulsion on board, 106.7 × 112.4 cm. London, Tate, T04132, © Bridget Riley, Photo: Tate, London, UK; and (b) Sidney Nolan, Women and Billabong, 1957. Poly(vinyl acetate) paint on hardboard, 152.4 × 121.9 cm. London, Tate, T00151, © Sidney Nolan Trust, Presteigne, UK; all rights reserved 2023, Bridgeman Images, London, UK, Photo: Tate, London, UK. NB: images not subject to creative commons license.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structures of vinyl acetate and poly(vinyl acetate).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Poly(vinyl acetate) artists’ paints and resins. Photo: Morana Novak, Tate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Some physical processes encountered in poly(vinyl acetate) films: (a) plasticiser migration and loss (the arrows indicate the direction of plasticiser migration) and (b) film drying and formation. (b) is adapted with permission from Zumbühl et al. [62]. © 2007 J. Paul Getty Trust.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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