A line of laser systems for applications in the restoration yard and in the restorer's studio

摘要

The EL.EN, Group, presently the leading Italian industry in laser technology for biomedical applications, is developing since 1994 a line of laser systems for conservation. The design of such systems has been carried out in the frame of National and International research programs, with the co-operation of research centres working in the fields of laser physics, chemistry and geology, as well as with institutions for conservation that validated laser cleaning techniques in interventions on artworks. The production line dedicated to conservation is composed of solid-state devices emitting in the near and in the mid-infrared spectrum, with emission characteristics that have been suitably optimised for various application purposes. In particular, for the treatment of stone surfaces we developed Nd:YAG systems with a suitably tailored pulse duration in the microsecond range, allowing effective and safe operations in the removal of superficial alterations. Two class of lasers are presently commercialised. The 2000 class is mainly designed for applications in the conservation yard to clean architectural elements of facades, where the required cleaning productivity must be comparable with the one of micro-sandblasting. The 1000 class, much more compact and lightweight, is suited for applications in the restorer studio on statues.