Marybeth,

Regalrez is a varnish that is being used mostly in paintings
conservation as a varnish. the National Gallery of Art has been doing
alot of research and development of this for conservation.

It should have excellent UV and ageing properties. You may want to
check on the soluability compatability, especially for artifacts that
may be already coated or sensitive to solvents - the reversibility
concern.

Here is the URl of a search on CAMEO (Conservation and Artists
Materials Encyclopedia) that is a great online database of the Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston.

http://www.mfa.org/_cameo/frontend/material_description.asp?name=Regalrez%AE+1094&language=1&MaterialName=regalrez&Synonyms=&Description=&Composition=&CAS=&MohsHardness=&MolecularWeight=&Density=&efrIndex=&MeltingPoint=&BoilingPoint=&OtherProperties=&Safety=&Authority=&Reference=&Image=&Page=1&NumPerPage=10&Browse=0

Also, here is a short description of Regalrez that was excerpted from
a posting from Jill Whitten, a well-respected paitnings conservator:

<Regalrez 1094: Properties and Uses

Regalrez 1094 is a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin introduced to
conservation by Rene de la Rie, Head of Scientific Research at the
National Gallery of Art, Washington. The introduction of Regalrez 1094
and other low molecular weight (LMW) resins came as a result of
research into the stabilization of dammar and mastic. Dr. de la Rie
discovered that dammar, and to a lesser extent, mastic, could be
stabilized with a hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) in the
absence of UV light[1]. In his search for a stable synthetic that
could duplicate the optical and aesthetic properties of the less
stable natural and ketone resins, he introduced Regalrez 1094, Arkon
P90 and an experimental aldehyde manufactured by BASF and not
commercially available[2]. The resins Arkon P90 and the aldehyde have
been extensively age tested and have been applied to paintings at the
Getty Museum[3], Metropolitan Museum of Art[2] and by numerous others
in the ensuing years.>

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California  USA

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