Testing protective coatings for metal conservation: the influence of the application method

Abstract The lack of a standardised methodology for the application coatings on heritage metals can lead to non-comparable results. A careful and meaningful study requires considering different variables involved, especially in preparation coupons. In this work, effect that these have protective capacity used has been studied. influence thickness, number layers drying time (between final) Paraloid B-72, C80 microcrystalline wax Incralac evaluated. Coatings applied bare steel coupons, thickness measured with an induction probe, subject artificial ageing UV light/water condensation cycles. performance studied by visual inspection electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Morphology characterised optical microscopy composition corrosion products Raman spectroscopy. Results show is not always proportional final coating, critical factor affecting properties coatings. After accelerated ageing, some had left dry 14 days much better than those were less time. Without taking into account factors, be wrong comparison between materials misleading.