Water removal of Filmoplast

By Neschen (manufacturer of Filmoplast P-90), 4348 Lower Mountain Rd., Lockport, NY 14094

Filmoplast P-90 employs a polyacrylate self-adhesive that is water removable from most paper surfaces. The removal process is often a time consuming and somewhat tedious process and as with any hinging system the framer should use only the minimum amount necessary to create a secure bond.

In attempting to remove our product it is helpful to understand a little about how a self-adhesive works. Self-adhesives bond by attaching to or enveloping the paper's fibers. It should be noted that on loose woven papers it may be impossible to remove the tape without leaving trace amounts of adhesive and/or removing some of the paper fibers. Typically this occurs at a level not readily visible to the naked eye.

Those tapes that employ a water activated adhesive at first glance may seem easier to reverse, but in reality, the linen, plastic or paper carrier is the only thing being removed. The adhesive layer upon contact with water dissolves and moves further into the paper creating a "tide line" or stain that may, or may, not be immediately evident. This now embedded adhesive may also serve to attract and hold foreign contaminants.

Our adhesive is not water-soluble but instead absorbs water. In doing so it swells, developing a greater affinity for itself then it has for the paper fibers. In this state it can be lifted and removed from the paper surface.

To remove Filmoplast P-90 you will need a watercolor brush and a glass of distilled water. (Do not use tap water as this may contain salts or other minerals that could be deposited in the paper).

Start by painting/dabbing the back of the tape with water being careful not to allow any water to run off onto the art itself Allow time for the water to penetrate the paper carrier applying more as needed. Once the paper carrier has been saturated it will separate from the adhesive and can be lifted off.

Go back with your brush and apply the distilled water to the exposed adhesive layer. The objective here is to saturate the adhesive with as much water as it will absorb. This is a time consuming step as the adhesive is slow to absorb and care should be taken not to apply so much water that it runs off onto the art.

Once the adhesive has reached its saturation point it can be lifted off the art. (A visual clue is a change in color to a milky white). If the adhesive pulls hard or you can see that the water has not reached far enough down into the adhesive layer stop and apply more time and water.

When hinging any work it is advisable to attach the work to a quality backboard and not the window mat. This way the backboard can be re-used and the work re-framed or re-mated in future without having to touch the hinges or artwork. If you have any doubts or reservations we suggest that you consult with a trained conservator prior to attempting removal. In addition to having more training and experience conservators have an array of tools to assist in this process.