The effect of parylene coating for restoration of gold foil on Dazu Grottoes

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of restoration of gold foils on Dazu Grottoes using different parylene coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

The gold foil samples were applied with two types of parylene coating with six different thicknesses, C‐10, C‐15, C‐20, N‐10, N‐20, N‐25, respectively. Electrochemical impedance, surface morphology, and hydrophobicity properties were used to examine the behavior of the coatings.

Findings

The results showed that an increase in electrochemical corrosion resistance was observed as the degree of coating thickness was increased for both C‐parylene and N‐parylene coatings. In addition, the surface morphology study, using 3D topography measurement, indicated that the surface roughness was decreased for all parylene coatings. Furthermore, the parylene‐C coating was comparatively more effective than was the parylene‐N coating.

Originality/value

The results obtained from the three methods were in close agreement. This is an indication that the parylene‐C coating can be used to restore the gold foils on Dazu Grottoes and to support future restoration and consolidation to be applied on site on the Grottoes.

Citation

Tian, X., Li, N., Zhang, Z., Chen, X., Wang, Y. and Weinhold, W.P. (2013), "The effect of parylene coating for restoration of gold foil on Dazu Grottoes", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 60 No. 5, pp. 239-244. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-06-2012-1188