Aquazol
Aquazol
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Aquazol is one of the few synthetic resins that dissolves in both water and ethanol and remains reversible years later. This is why it has been used in conservation since the 1990s: it is used to consolidate a fragile layer, to adhere, and as a medium for reintegration, without closing the door to further intervention later on.
Chemically, it is poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), PEOX (CAS 25805-17-8). It is not a polyvinylpyrrolidone: it is a different chemical family. It is an amorphous, pH-neutral polymer with no defined melting point. It is manufactured by Polymer Chemistry Innovations (Tucson, Arizona) as a technical polymer for industrial use. Its use on artworks is backed by the literature of the field, starting with the Getty Conservation Institute study of 1994.
We supply it in two grades —200 and 500— both in 1 kg containers. The grade does not change what Aquazol is; it changes the molecular weight, and with it how much it penetrates and how much cohesion the final film has.
What is it used for?
- Consolidation of powdery or poorly cohesive pictorial layers, used at low concentration.
- Adhesion of fragments and light fastenings (depending on grade and concentration).
- Reintegration / retouching medium — as a binder for pigment.
- Precoated repair tissue for paper — at 10 % weight/volume in deionised water, reactivated with heat or with ethanol (Library of Congress and NARA, 2019).
On paper, canvas, panel, mural and polychrome sculpture, and always in a controlled humidity environment. For indoor work, with relative humidity below 65-70 % (Muros, Cotsen Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 2012). If you are working in a crypt or an unheated church, write to us and we will look at it with you.
Why choose Aquazol?
- Dual solubility — water and ethanol. You choose the solvent according to what the artwork tolerates, without changing products.
- Excellent reversibility, and measured. In the Getty Conservation Institute study (1994), after a dose equivalent to some 24 years of museum exposure the films were still completely resoluble (study on grades 50 and 500). It is removed with the same solvent it was applied in; then water or an alcohol-water mixture; and if you need to work fast, acetone, which is the recommended route and the one that performed best in the published tests.
- Real versatility. The same container can be used for consolidating, adhering, and retouching just by changing the concentration.
- Colour behaviour, measured. Under filtered light, the colour holds up very well — in a free film the 200 even lightens (Pastor Valls, doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de València, 2014). If you are working over a light tone, check the colour of the solution before committing it to the artwork.
The two grades: when to choose each one
| Aquazol 200 | Aquazol 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weight | Target 200,000, declared by the manufacturer | Target 500,000, declared by the manufacturer |
| Behavior | Versatile: good balance between penetration and strength | More cohesive and stronger film |
| Choose it for | Consolidation, retouching, light adhesion, general use | When you want the strongest film |
| If in doubt | This one. The 200 is the most versatile grade | When you need maximum film cohesion |
Regarding maximum penetration: for deep consolidation of a very compact or very disintegrated support, the grade to use is 50 (lowest molecular weight, most penetration). We supply it on request in 100 g and 500 g from the Aquazol® by Kremer page. In the vast majority of cases, 200 worked at a low concentration (2.5–5%) penetrates sufficiently.
Working concentrations, each with its source
There is no single concentration: there is one per job. The general range comes from the technical data sheet for restoration; the rest come from the published literature and carry their own source.
| Use | Concentration | Solvent | Who says so |
|---|---|---|---|
| General range | 10 – 25 % | Water | Technical data sheet for restoration |
| Consolidation, general use | 5 – 10 % weight/volume | Water, ethanol or isopropanol | Arslanoglu, 2004 |
| Consolidation of matte distemper paint | 1, 3 and 5 % weight/volume | Propan-2-ol : water 1:1 | Castro Simarro, 2020 |
| Setting down flaking paint on water-sensitive works | 2.5 % weight/volume | Propan-2-ol | Ebert and others, 2012 |
| Cracked and lifting oil paint, with a heated spatula | 10 – 15 % | Ethanol : water 90:10 | Arslanoglu, 2004 |
| Precoated repair tissue for paper | 10 % weight/volume | Deionised water | Library of Congress and NARA, 2019 |
| Studio stock solution, to dilute as needed | 20 % | Water or alcohol | Arslanoglu, 2004 |
Always start at the lowest concentration and increase only if the treatment calls for it: the literature measures that several dilute applications work better than a single concentrated one. And on non-polar surfaces such as oil paint, adding around 10 % ethyl alcohol to the aqueous solution is recommended — that is an addition of ethanol to water, not a 10 % solution in ethanol.
Storage
- Store sealed and with desiccant, in a dry place. Aquazol is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture from the environment. Stored this way, it stays free-flowing.
- Prepare only the amount you intend to use. It is worth preparing the solution a day or two before you need it.
Is Aquazol the same as PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)?
No. This is a common mistake. Aquazol is poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), PEOX — a different chemical family.
Do I dissolve it in water or alcohol?
Either: it is soluble in water and ethanol. You choose according to what the artwork tolerates.
Is it reversible?
Yes, that is one of its strong points, but the order matters: it is removed with the same solvent it was applied in; then water or an alcohol-water mixture; and if you need to work fast, acetone. A mop-type swab helps, rather than a cotton bud, as it is less abrasive.
The container arrived caked. Is it bad?
Write to us before using it. Caking comes from the moisture Aquazol absorbs from the air. Stored hermetically sealed and with desiccant, it stays free-flowing.
Is it suitable for deep consolidation of a highly disintegrated mural?
It depends on the case. The grade for maximum penetration is 50, and we supply it on request from the Aquazol® by Kremer page; 200 at low concentration (2.5–5%) covers most deep consolidations. If your support is very compact, contact us via WhatsApp and we'll assess it.
What solvent should I use to prepare the solution?
You can use deionized water or restoration-grade ethanol.
Can I use it for facings on paper?
On paper, the documented use is precoated repair tissue: at 10 % weight/volume in deionised water, reactivated with a tacking iron at about 95 °C for 5 seconds, or with ethanol (Library of Congress and NARA, 2019). It is prepared on thin Japanese paper → Tengujo Kashmir 9g Japanese Paper.
What if I need an adhesive with more structural load?
For stronger bonds, there is Paraloid B-72.
Not sure if you need the 200 or 500 — or what concentration to use in your case? Contact us via WhatsApp at +34 614 50 45 65 and our technical team will confirm before you buy. You can also take the Aquazol test (4 questions) or read the complete guide to Aquazol grades.
Pre-order item — it usually reaches you in 1 to 2 weeks. If you need it by a specific date, message us on WhatsApp before buying and we will tell you whether we can make it.
