MC-Foams
Recipe I:
Air-Dried MC Foams (4.0–6.0 wt%), Hot Foamed
Materials
- Methocel™ A4M (#63671)
- 94 ml deionized water (≈ 60 °C)
- Household mixer with whisk attachment
- Air-permeable drying support
Preparation
- Sprinkle 6 g Methocel™ A4M into 94 ml warm deionized water (≈ 60 °C).Allow to cool to approx. 55 °C.
- Whip at maximum speed for ~2.5 min.
- Apply foam in layers ≤ 2.5 cm thick.
- Air-dry for 3–7 days.
Properties
- Rigid yet slightly flexible dried foam
- Open-cell, heterogeneous pore structure
- Suitable as stabilizing inlays (e.g. in conservation)
Source: Brundler, Stefanie + Bunz, Sophie
Recipe II:
Liquid, Double-Syringe Technique MC Foams (4.0 wt%), Cold Foamed
Materials
- Methocel™ A4M (#63671), 4 wt% aqueous solution
- Two Luer-lock syringes (5 ml)
- Luer connector (male–male)
- Dosing needle (> Ø 0.06 mm) or micro-dosing device
- Optional: Microcrystalline cellulose (Vivapur®)
Preparation
- Fill 1 ml of ready-to-use 4 wt% MC A4M solution into one syringe.
- Draw 2 ml of air into a second syringe.
- Connect syringes using a Luer connector.
- Move plungers back and forth ~30 times (~30 s) to generate liquid foam.
Application & Drying
- Apply directly from the syringe or through a dosing needle (up to ~7 mm).
- Drying time: 2–3 h (foam volume ~5 mm³).
- Drying can be accelerated with a heating spatula.
- Increased hardness by adding Vivapur® fibers (MC : fiber = 20 : 1).
Properties / Use
- Soft to moderately firm foam
- Particularly suitable for underfilling voids and reattaching lifted paint layers
Source: Rittler, Magdalena
Recipe III:
Soft, Oven-Dried MC Foams (1.0 wt%), Cold and Hot Foamed
Materials
- Methocel™ A4M (#63671), 1.0 wt% aqueous solution
- Electric milk frother with double whisk
- Air-permeable support (e.g. Hollytex)
- Convection oven
Preparation
- Whip 60 ml of 1.0 wt% MC A4M solution for 3 min at room temperature.
- Continue foaming for 1 min 30 s at 55 °C.
- Repeat once.
- Apply foam onto Hollytex (max. heap size ~4 × 5 × 5 cm or very thin layers).
- Oven-dry at 85 °C, 20% air circulation for ~2 h.
Properties / Use
- Very soft, easily cut dried foam
- Reactivatable with water
- Intended for adhesion and reactivation rather than load-bearing
- Water:ethanol (1:1) improves wetting, reduces water input, and accelerates drying
Source: Soppa, Karolina
