Volatile binding media: the first 20 years … and beyond

Abstract

In the 20 years since Hans Hangleiter introduced volatile binding media (VBMs) to conservation, their adoption by conservators in all disciplines has been very rapid. This paper is a retrospective review of the published literature about VBMs in conservation during the 20 years between 1995 and 2015. It aims to survey the published literature as thoroughly as possible, in order to describe the development of knowledge in this field. Published sources are analysed by conservation discipline, themes, and country of origin in order to show how knowledge and practice of VBMs have spread. Trends in the research about VBMs are described, with a particular focus on major research developments since 2008 (when a literature review about cyclododecane was published by Rowe and Rozeik). Finally, it offers suggestions for future research directions.