„Medical Textiles“

(Neue) Materialien für die Konservierung-Restaurierung?!

Abstract

‘Medical Textiles’. (New) materials for conservation-restoration?!
Textile structures borrowed from the medical context have long been used as materials and products in various areas of applied conservation and restoration science. To date, various suture materials, medical fabrics and nonwovens have been developed and tested for conservation and restoration practice: for example, surgical suture materials are used for tear sewing in textile painting supports, or to apply supportive stitches to textile objects. Various dressing and compress materials are also used for glued or sewn-on patches, for extracting binding agents and for removing varnishes or surface soiling. In the field of medical textiles, however, further textile technologies, such as warp-knitting and braiding, and the resulting products also have great potential for conservation and restoration: for example, warp-knitted meshes could be used for transparent loose linings or spanning of sensitive objects, while spacer fabrics could present an alternative material for cushioning packaging or for backing protection. This article provides an overview of known and new options for medical textiles for use in conservation-restoration.