Laponite RD

Description

[Laporte Absorbents] A brand name for a synthetically prepared clay composed of sodium magnesium lithium silicate. When mixed with water, Laponite forms a clear thixotropic gel. Industrially, it is used in paints, inks, cleaning materials, shampoos and cosmetics. In some conservation treatments, Laponite has been used as a poulticing material to remove stains and dirt from ceramic and stone objects.

Risks

• Dust may contain fine particle silica.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Disperses and gels in water.

Resources and Citations

• D.Ling, "Laponite Poulticing", Conservation News, 46, p.10-11,1991.

• Ceramics and Glass Conservation Section, List of Workshop Materials, The British Museum, London

• Marie Svoboda, Conservation Survey Index, unpublished, 1997

• Gordon Hanlon, contributed information, 1998