Thought and suggestion on protection techniques of paint layers of Qin terracotta army

Abstract

The protection of the paint layers of the Qin terracotta army is a primary problem being addressed by conservation activities at the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum. Based on a comprehensive introduction to the present state of the Qin terracotta army, the causes of degradation were analyzed. Factors such as history, mechanics, physics, and chemistry jointly caused the destruction. Two protective methods, one combining PEG-200 and polyurethane latex, the other employing infiltration of a monomer solidified by electron beam, are evaluated in particular. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are analyzed. The principles and operation of some ancillary reinforcement technologies, such as freeze-drying and a room-temperature drying method, are introduced. Then a method that incorporates reinforcement materials with protective treatments of the terracotta figures, stabilizing the lacquer layer, is put forward.