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A Short Bibliography on the issue of yellowing and other side effects during Nd:YAG laser-cleaning compiled by Carole Dignard,
Objects Conservator, Canadian Conservation Institute
September 2004




Note: Articles in bold indicate those that were directly referred to in my 2004 AIC talk ‘Nd:YAG Laser Cleaning: Further Developments on the Yellowing issue’.


Caverhill, J., I. Latimer and B. Singer. 1996. An investigation into the use of a laser for the removal of modern ink marks from paper. The Conservator 20: 65-76.

Caverhill, J., B. Singer and I. Latimer. 1998. An investigation into the use of lasers in paper conservation. In IPC Conference Papers London 1997, ed. J. Eagan. The Institute of Paper Conservation. 284-290.

Caverhill, J., J. Stanley, B. Singer and I. Latimer. 1999. The effect of ageing, on paper irradiated by laser as a conservation technique. Restaurator 1999 57-76.

Cooper, Martin, ed. 1998. Laser cleaning in conservation, an introduction. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Cooper, M., S. Sportun, A. Stewart, M. Vest, R. Larsen and D. Poulsen. 2000. Laser cleaning of an eighteenth-century parchment document. The Conservator 24: 69-79.

Dignard, C., W.F. Lai, N. Binnie, G. Young, M. Abraham and S. Scheerer. In press. Cleaning of soiled white feathers using the Nd:YAG Laser and traditional methods. In J. Cultural Heritage vol. 6 s. 2, Proceedings of the International conference LACONA V Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks V, September 15-18 2003, Osnabrueck, Germany, ed. K. Dickman.

Dignard, C., N. Binnie, P. Heinrichs, T. Stone and G. Young. Microscopic and SEM examinations of Nd-YAG laser cleaned organic and silver samples, (in preparation).

Esbert, R.M., C.M. Grossi, A. Rojo, F.J. Alonso, M. Montoto, J. Ordax, M.C. Pérez de Andrès, C. Escudero, M. Barrera, E. Sebastiàn, C. Rodriguez-Navarro, K. Elert. 2001. Application limits of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser irradiation for stone cleaning based on colour measurements. In J. of Cultural Heritage 4, Proceedings of the 4th International Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks conference (LACONA IV), Paris, Sept. 11-14th 2001, ed. V. Vergès-Belmin. 50s-55s.

Fayard A. 2000. A propos de l’article traitant du ‘Nettoyage au laser’. La Lettre de l’OCIM No. 68 .

Gaspar, P., A. Kearns, R.Vilar, K. Watkins and M.M. Malhoa Gomes. 2000. A study of the effect of wavelength on Q-switched Nd :YAG laser cleaning of eighteenth-century Portuguese tiles. Studies in Conservation 45: 189-200.

 Kautek W., S. Pentzien, J. Krüger, E. König. 1997. Laser Cleaning of Ancient Parchments. In Restauratrenblätter, Proceedings of the conference LACONA I, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, 4-6 October 1995, Heraklion, Crete, eds. W. Kautek and E. König. Vienna: Sonderband, Verlag Mayer and Comp. 69-78.

Kautek W., S. Pentzien, P. Rudolph, J. Krüger and E. König. 1998. Laser Interaction with coated collagen and cellulose fibre composites: fundamentals of laser cleaning of ancient parchment manuscripts and paper. Applied Surface Science 127-129: 746-754.

Klein S., F. Fekrsanati, J. Hildenhagen, K. Dickmann, H. Uphoff, Y. Marakis and V. Zafiropulos. 2001. Discoloration of marble during laser cleaning by Nd :YAG laser wavelengths. Applied Surface Science 171: 242-251.

Klein S., V. Zafiropulos, T. Stratoudaki, J. Hildenhagen, K. Dickman, T. Lehmkuhl. 2000. Experimental Studies on Black Encrusted Sandstone Cleaning by Various UV Wavelengths. In Optics and Lasers in Biomedicine and Culture, Contributions to the Fifth International Conference on Optics Within Life Sciences OWLS V, Crete, 13-16 October 1998, eds. C. Fotakis, T. G. Papazoglou, C. Kalpouzos. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 159-162.

Kolar, J., M. Strlic, V.-S. Selih and M. Marincek. 2003. Surface modification during Nd:YAG (1064 nm) pulsed laser cleaning of organic fibrous materials. Abstract Book, LACONA V Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks 5. International Conference, Osnabrueck, Germany, September 15-18, 2003. 55-58.

Kolar, J., M. Strlic and M. Marincek. 2002. IR pulsed laser light interaction with soiled cellulose and paper. Applied Physics 75: 673-676.

Kolar, J., M. Strlic, D. Müller-Hess, A. Gruber, K. Troschke, S. Pentzien, W. Kautek. 2003. Laser cleaning of paper using Nd:YAG laser running at 532 nm. In J. of Cultural Heritage 4, Proceedings of the 4th International Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks conference (LACONA IV), Paris, Sept. 11-14th 2001, ed. V. Vergès-Belmin. 185s-187s.

Kolar J., M. Strlic, D. Müller-Hess, A. Gruber, K. Troschke S. Pentzien, W. Kautek. 2000. Near-UV and visible pulsed laser interaction with paper. In J. Cult. Heritage 1 Supplement 1, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Florence, Italy, April 26-29 1999, eds. R. Salimbeni and G. Bonsanti. S221-S224.

Kolar, J., M. Strlic, S. Pentzien, W. Kautek. 2000. Near-UV, visible and IR pulsed laser light interaction with cellulose. Applied Physics 71: 87-90.

Kolar, J., M. Strlic, M. Marincek. 2000. The effect of Nd :YAG laser radiation at 1064 nm on paper. Restaurator 9-18.

Larson, J. and M. Cooper. 1996. The use of laser energy for cleaning architectural terracotta decoration. In Architectural Ceramics, Their History, Manufacture and Conservation, A Joint Symposium of English Heritage and the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 22-25 September 1994, ed. J. M. Teutonico. London: James & James. 92-100.

Luk’yanchuk, B.S. and V. Zafiropulos. 2002. Chapter 9: On the theory of discoloration effect in pigments at laser cleaning. In Laser Cleaning, ed. B. Luk’yanchuk. New Jersey: World Scientific. 393-414.

Maravelaki, P., G. Biscontin, R. Polloni, W. Cecchetti, E. Zendri. 1992. Investigations on surface alteration of limestone related to cleaning processes. In Proceedings of the 7th International congress on deterioration and conservation of stone, vol. 3, Lisbon Portugal, 15-18 June 1992, ed. J. Delgado Rodrigues, F. Henriques, F. Telmo Jeremias. Portugal : Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil. 1093-1101.

Orial, G. 1995. Nettoyage des pierres des monuments français par laser, 1ère partie: Mise au point de la méthode et contrôle de l’innocuité. In Proceedings of the 1995 LCP Congress on the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Montreux, Sept. 25-29, 1995, ed. R. Pancella. France : Ecole Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.

Orial, G. and V. Vergès-Belmin. 1995. Monuments et technologie de pointe, le tour de France laser. In Monumental, ed. Monuments Historiques, Direction du Patrimoine, Ministèere de la Culture, Paris, France. 10-11 (Dec) : 23-35.

Pacaud G. and J. Lemaire. 2000. Le nettoyage au laser ; D’un jaunissement observable sur des plumes blanches ayant subi un traitement par laser yag de d´sincrustation. La Lettre de l’OCIM 67 : 21-32.

Pini, R., S. Siano, R. Salimbeni. 2000. Field tests and operative applications of improved laser techniques for stone cleaning. In Proceedings of the 9th international congress on deterioration and conservation of stone, Venice June 19-24, 2000, ed. V. Fassina. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 577-582.

Pini R., S. Siano, R. Salimbeni, P. Mazzinghi, G. Sabatini, G. Guasparri, M. Giamello and A. Scala. 1999. Laser cleaning in the conservation of lapidary objects. Kermes 34(XII): 29-39.

Pouli, P. and D. Emmony. 2001. The effect of Nd:YAG laser radiation on medieval pigments. In J. Cult. Heritage 1 Supplement 1, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Florence, Italy, April 26-29 1999, eds. R. Salimbeni and G. Bonsanti. S181-S188.

Rudolph P., S. Pentzien, J. Kr¨ger, W. Kautek and E. König. 1998. Laserreinigung von pergament und papier. Restauro 6: 396-402.

Shekede L. 1998. The effects of laser radiation on polychromed surfaces. The Analysis of Pigments and Plasters – Its relevance to current wall painting and stone conservation practice, Post-prints of a day conference of the wall paintings section of the UKIC, Feb. 1997. London: British Museum. 23-25.

Shekede, L. 1997. Lasers: a preliminary study of their potential for the cleaning and uncovering of wall paintings. In Proceedings of the conference LACONA I, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, 4-6 October 1995, Heraklion, Crete, Restauratrenblätter. Vienna: Sonderband, Verlag Mayer and Comp.: 51-56.

Siano, S., F. Fabiani, R. Pini, R. Salimbeni, M. Giamello and G. Sabatini. 2001. Determination of damage thresholds to prevent side effects in laser cleaning of Pliocene sandstone of Siena. In J. Cult. Heritage 1 Supplement 1, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, eds. R. Salimbeni and G. Bonsanti. S47-S53.

Siano, S., R. Pini, R. Salimbeni, M. Giamello, A. Scala, F. Fabiani, P. Bianchini. 2000. Integration of laser with conventional techniques in marble restoration. In Proceedings of the 9th international congress on deterioration and conservation of stone, Venice June 19-24, 2000, ed. V. Fassina. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 569-576.

Siano, S., F. Margheri, R. Pini, P. Mazzinghi and R. Salimbeni. 1997. Cleaning processes of encrusted marbles by Nd:YAG lasers operating in free-running and Q-switching regimes. Applied Optics 36(27): 7073-7079.

Solajic, M.R., B. Pretzel, M. Cooper, J.H. Townsend, T. Seddon, J. Ruppel, J. Ostapkowicz, T. Parker. 2002. A collaborative examination of the colourfastness of Amazonian leatherwork: assessing the effects of exposure to light and laser radiation. In Preprints of the 13th ICOM-CC Triennial Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, 22-27 September 2002, Vol. 2, ed. R. Vontobel. London: James & James Ltd. 701-707.

Solajic, M.R., M. Cooper, T. Seddon, J. Ruppel, J. Ostapkowicz, T. Parker. 2002. Colourful feathers: Multidisciplinary investigation of the Amazonian featherwork from the ethnographic collection at the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (NMGM) – initial results. In The Conservation of fur, feather and skin, ed. M.M. Wright, CEA (Conservators of Ethnographic Artefacts) Series No. 3. London: Archetype Publications. 69-78.

S. Schaeuffelhut, H.Tello, S. Schneider. 2002. Cleaning of feathers from the Ethnological Museum, Berlin. In The Conservation of fur, feather and skin, ed. M.M. Wright, CEA (Conservators of Ethnographic Artefacts) Series No. 3. London: Archetype Publications. 62- 68.

Sportun, S., M. Cooper, A. Stewart, M. Vest, R. Larsen, D. V. Poulsen. 2000. An Investigation into the effect of wavelength in the laser cleaning of parchment. In J. Cult. Heritage 1 Supplement 1, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, eds. R. Salimbeni and G. Bonsanti. S225-S232.

Stone, Thomas. 1996. Laser Cleaning Demonstration. CCI Newsletter 17( March): 13-14.

Stratoudaki, T., A. Manousaki, V. Zafiropulos, N. Huet, S. Pètremont and A. Vinçotte. 1999. Cleaning of ceramics using lasers of different wavelength. In  Optics and Lasers in Biomedicine and Culture, Contributions to the Fifth International Conference on Optics Within Life Sciences (OWLS V), Crete, 13-16 October 1998, Vol. V, eds. C. Fotakis, T. G. Papazoglou and C. Kalpouzos. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 213-217.

Strlic, M., J. Kolar, V.-S. Selih and M. Marincek. 2003. Surface modification during Nd:YAG (1064 nm) pulsed laser cleaning of organic fibrous materials. Applied Surface Science 207(1-4): 236.

Sutcliffe, H., M. Cooper and J. Farnsworth. 2000. An initial investigation into the cleaning of new and naturally aged cotton textiles using laser radiation. In J. Cult. Heritage 1 Supplement 1, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Florence, Italy, April 26-29 1999 , eds. R. Salimbeni and G. Bonsanti. S241-S246.

Szczepanowska, H.M. and W.R. Moomaw. 1994. Laser stain removal of fungus-induced stains from paper. Journal of the American Institute of Conservation 33: 25-32.

Vergès-Belmin, V. and C. Dignard. 2003. Laser Yellowing: myth or reality?. In J. of Cultural Heritage 4, Proceedings of the 4th International Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks conference (LACONA IV), Paris, Sept. 11-14th 2001, ed. V. Vergès-Belmin. 238s-244s.

Vergès-Belmin V., G. Orial and P. Bromblet. In press. A review on the effects of the Q-switched YAG laser on natural patina. In Proceedings of the LACONA 2 congress , held in Liverpool, 23-25 April 1997 at the conservation center.

Vergès-Belmin V. and P. Bromblet. 2000. Le Nettoyage de la Pierre. Monumental, revue scientifique et technique des Monuments Historiques. Paris : Editions du patrimoine, Centre des Monuments Nationaux. 220-273.

Vergès-Belmin V. 1997. Comparison of three cleaning methods - microsandblasting, chemical pads and Q-switched laser - on a portal of the cathedral Notre-Dame in Paris, France. In Restauratrenblätter, Proceedings of the conference LACONA I, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, 4-6 October 1995, Heraklion, Crete, eds. Kautek W. and E. König. Vienna: Sonderband, Verlag Mayer and Comp. 17-24.

Vergès-Belmin V. 1995. Nettoyage des pierres des monuments français par laser, 2ème partie: Comparaison avec d’autres méthodes (microsablage et compresse chimique). In Proceedings of the 1995 LCP Congress on the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Montreux, Sept. 25-29, 1995, ed. Renato Pancella. France : Ecole Polytechnique fèdèrale de Lausanne. (9 pages).

Vergès-Belmin V., C. Pichot and G. Orial. 1993. Elimination de croûtes noires sur marbre et craie : à quel niveau arrêter le nettoyage? In Proceedings of the International Congress on the Conservation of Stone and Other Materials, Vol. 2 (RILEM/UNESCO Proceedings  21), Paris, June 29-July 1, 1993, ed. by M. J. Thiel. London: E & FN Spon. 534-541.

Vest, M., M. Cooper and R. Larsen. 2003. Evaluation of laser cleaning of parchment documents with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064, 532 and 266 nm – Part 1. Abstract Book, LACONA V Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks 5. International Conference, Osnabrueck, Germany, September 15-18, 2003. 59-62.

Zafiropulos, V., V. Pouli, V. Kylikoglou, P. Maravelaki-Kalaittzafi, B.S. Luk’yanchuk, A. Dogariu. 2003. Synchronous use of IR and UV laser pulses in the removal of encrustation: merchanistic aspects, discoloration phenomena and benefits. Abstract Book, LACONA V Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks 5. International Conference, Osnabrueck, Germany, September 15-18, 2003. 131-133.

Zafiropulos V., Y. Marakis, V. Pouli, P. Maravelaki, A. Manousaki, K. Melesanaki, C. Balas, S. Klein, J. Hildenhagen, K. Dickmann, B.S. Luk’yanchuk, A. Dogariu. 2003. Yellowing effect and discoloration of pigments: experimental and theoretical studies. In J. of Cultural Heritage 4, Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA IV Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Paris, Sept. 11-14th 2001, ed. V. Vergès-Belmin. 249s-256s.

Zafiropulos, V. 2002. Chapter 8: Laser Ablation in cleaning of artworks. In Laser Cleaning, ed. B. Luk’yanchuk. New Jersey: World Scientific. 345-392.


General references on laser cleaning:

Cooper, Martin, ed. 1998. Laser Cleaning in Conservation, An Introduction. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 98 p.

Dickman, K., ed. In press. LACONA 5: Proceedings of the 5th International Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks conference, Osnabrueck, Germany, Sept. 15-18 2003, published within J. of Cultural Heritage.

Kautek W. and E. König, eds. 1997. Restauratorenblätter, Proceedings of the Conference LACONA I, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, 4-6 October 1995, Heraklion, Crete. Vienna:Verlag Mayer & Comp.

Luk’yanchuk, B., ed. 2002. Laser Cleaning. New Jersey: World Scientific, 466 p.

Proceedings of the LACONA 2 congress , held in Liverpool, 23-25 April 1997 at the conservation center. In Press.

Rodriguez-Navarro, K. Elert, E. Sebastian, R.M. Esbert, C.M. Grossi, A. Rojo, F. J. Alonso, M. Montoto and J. Ordaz. 2003. Laser cleaning of stone materials: an overview of current research Reviews in Conservation 4: 65-82.

Salimbeni, R. and Bonsanti, G., eds. 2001. Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA III, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Florence, Italy, April 26-29 1999, published within J. of Cultural Heritage 1(1).

Vergès-Belmin, V., ed. 2003. Proceedings of the International Conference LACONA IV, Lasers in the Conservation of Artworks, Paris, Sept. 11-14th 2001, published within J. of Cultural Heritage 4(1).
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