A review of synthetic binding media in twentieth‐century paints

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Numerous synthetic resins have been developed for use as binding media in twentieth‐century paint. These synthetic paints, including those intended for household or industrial markets as well as those designed specifically for artists’ use, have been widely used on works of art. However, most painting conservators are still relatively unfamiliar with the types of synthetic resin used. Although the subject is vast and complex, the binding media used in this field can be simplified into four principal classes: acrylic, alkyd, polyvinyl acetate and nitrocellulose. This paper outlines the nature, use and salient properties of these four classes and includes sections on their probable additives. Despite the difficulty in identifying additives, an awareness of which types are likely to be present will greatly assist the understanding of each binder's properties.