Size-exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry of low molecular weight resins used as varnishes for paintings

Synthetic low molecular weight resins have found wide application as varnishes for paintings in the field of art conservation because of their excellent optical characteristics and chemical stability. Traditional natural varnish media, such as dammar and mastic, have excellent optical characteristics, but are chemically unstable and may become difficult to remove upon aging. Many synthetic polymeric materials used as varnishes have excellent chemical stability, but poor optical characteristics. The current study presents data on the molecular weight distributions and glass transition temperatures of low molecular weight resins, as well as data on changes in their molecular weight distributions during exposure as films to a xenon-arc lamp for approx. 3000 h.