Removing rubber latex from rugs

Colin Pearson <pearson [at] science__canberra__edu__au>

>Carol has 6 rugs, each approximately 3m x 2.5m which are hand woven
>and have a backing of rubber latex plus water emulsion.  The backing
>was unevenly applied by hand and is still malleable.  The rubber is
>leaching through to the surface of the rugs causing discolouration
>and attracting dirt (the rugs are used on the floor of public
>areas).

See:

    Ballard, M. W., The removal of crosslinked synthetic latex from
    carpets: preliminary results. ICOM Committee for Conservation:
    Preprints, Sydney, 1987, p. 331.

    **** Moderator's comments:   Thanks also to Abigail Hart
    <ngvcons [at] vicnet__net__au> who sent the same citation.

The following workshop has experience in applying this method:

    The Carpet Conservation Workshop
    Att. Jonathon Tetley
    Unit 2, Danebury Court
    South Portway Business Park
    Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6EB
    UK
    +44 722 411854

The Abegg-Stiftung (Riggesberg, Switzerland) have a lot of ecclesiastical
textiles in their collection, many of which must be encrusted in varying
degrees with candle wax and smoke. Perhaps they can advise you. The same
goes for the V&A.

Jennifer Barnett
Andelos Textielrestauratie
Sinaasappelstr. 101
Netherlands 2564 EN Den Haag
+31 70 368 34 87

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:50
                Distributed: Saturday, December 23, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-9-50-005
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