Final Report Summary - GRAFFITAGE (Development of a new anti-graffiti system, based on traditional concepts, preventing damage of architectural heritage materials)
The ultimate aim of the GRAFFITAGE project was to develop novel conservation coatings proper for protecting materials of historical monuments, which would be based on a similar structure to ancient protein coatings, thus avoiding the disadvantages of the currently used anti-graffiti ones. This development laid on an innovative formulation by complexation of polyampholytes with polymeric amines modified by fluorocarbon residues. These would constitute a new generation of anti-graffiti systems which after further development could be commercialised and applied by Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in this market. Amongst the main characteristics of these products were the following: low surface energy, permanent under outdoor conditions, reversibility to specially designed mild cleaning systems, permeability to water vapour, impermeability to liquid water and transparency.