Megan Creamer gave a wonderful presentation on her investigation into the efficacy of ultrasonic cleaning and its potential use in textile conservation. Her well-rounded and thorough presentation included an introduction to the technique and the way it has been used historically. She gave a very clear and detailed description of cavitation, the process by which bubbles form and collapse to produce energy, and outlined the research she conducted to better understand the phenomenon. The physical processes that provide the cleaning action are clearly complex, but through her research and excellent visuals the whole process became clear!
If the technique is to be used on a practical level in textile conservation treatments, additional research is necessary to determine optimal cleaning environments and parameters. The presentation provided the foundational research that investigates cleaning action and results of testing were promising. If this cleaning technique can effectively lift embedded soiling without the use of surfactants or chelators, the problems that plague wet cleaning (surfactant residues, the environmental impact of the materials that we have historically used in treatments) could be addressed. I very much look forward to hearing more about the results of Meagan’s research, and hope that more will be published soon on the long-term effects of ultrasonic cleaning and any impact that this treatment may have on the structural stability and/or degradation of textiles.
Megan’s style of presenting was professional, enthusiastic, and engaging and her well-organized talk was both easy to follow and extremely informative. Thanks for a wonderful contribution to this year’s conference!
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