Efficacy of Colour Protectors in Urban Art Paintings under Different Conditions: From a Real Mural to the Laboratory

Contemporary muralism is one of the most widespread manifestations urban art in cities nowadays. Loss colour (fading) due to degradation pictorial materials main deterioration this type artwork. However, application protective coatings considered slow down fading. In study, two acrylic-based were applied selected areas a real mural painted with six different alkyd paints and acrylic paint. The impact on original paint long-term efficacy evaluated. For purposes comparison, same mock-ups prepared under controlled conditions exposed an outdoor environment marine influence ultraviolet aging test. At end exposure periods, physical chemical changes evaluated using multi-analytical approach based stereomicroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy scanning electron microscopy. Both modified paints, being greater than mock-ups. as protectors more appreciable colour-stable paints. Thus, neither provided good protection for sensitive deterioration. was also influenced by their composition affinity surfaces.