FAQ Services - Anoxic Disinfestation

 I would like to know if your company works also for privates.

Of course, it is a great pleasure to work for private Customers. VELOXY^® is usually applied on artworks that have great artistic, historical and cultural value and that are preserved in famous museums all over the world. However, it can be used on any objects that are made of organic material (wood, paper, parchment, leather, cloth) which can be damaged by parasites. The method VELOXY^® is completely natural, is 100% efficient and guarantees costs that are comparable to the ones of less effective methods.

 Does it imply any risks in dealing with a painting with its wood structurally compromised?

Absolutely no, the VELOXY^® system is not harmful for any kind of material independently on its condition. Moreover the VELOXY^® system can be used on site due to its simplicity and facility to be carried, feature that limits the manipulation of artworks to be treated.

  Some woodworms (I do not exactly which species) have attacked a trunk that I keep in my attic, which contains blankets and homemade doilies that are very valuable for me, what could I do?

It is enough to carry out a few hours treatment though the VELOXY^® system to guarantee the elimination of parasites, even inside the trunk. Furthermore, the VELOXY^® system does not use chemicals of any kind, hence the trunk can be treated leaving the blankets and the doilies inside it; as a consequence they both are preserved from the attack of parasites and later they can be used without any danger at a later stage.

 Can you guarantee that the woodworms will be completely eliminated after the treatment?

The anoxic VELOXY^® method is guaranteed by the certification obtained from the European SAVE ART project that was financed by the European Community. For the first time, protocols were developed and was shown in 5 different European laboratories that woodworms are eliminated at each stage of their life , adults, larvae, pupae and especially the eggs. This result is almost impossible to achieve by using insecticides. Basically the VELOXY^® replaces the air, which is initially contained in the envelopes, with the nitrogen present in the ambient air and generated through the VELOXY^®. Nitrogen molecules will replace completely oxygen ones and this guarantees an100% efficiency even in the deepest parts of the artwork which could not be reached using conventional methods.

 What are the advantages of choosing the Veloxy instead of chemical insecticides in order to eliminate woodworms and other parasites?

The advantages of using the VELOXY^® system instead of chemical insecticides are numerous.
TOXICITY: A chemical insecticide always implies risks both for the health of artworks and people. The hazard is not only present when the product is used but also when treated artworks will be put back into the storage place as  they will release volatile chemicals that are contained in the insecticide and are poisonous for people. On the other hand, the VELOXY^® method is an anoxic treatment that involves using the nitrogen, which is normally breathed and consequently, is not harmful both for people and artworks.
EFFECTIVENESS: In the field of disinfestations are usually used insecticides that work only if parasites interact with the product. Generally they are used in liquid form and, despite the accuracy of the application, it is impossible to avoid that the poisonous liquid comes into contact with some part of the work, including microscopic cracks. The VELOXY^® system, using nitrogen , is capable of reaching the smallest crack, eliminating all the parasites, larvae and eggs.
APPLICABILITY: Although disinfesting chemicals are intended to be banned, their application is still quite common. In addition to this, it is known that they cannot be applied on many materials without creating irreparable damages. In fact it is impossible to use these chemicals on paper materials, cloth or canvas. On the contrary, the VELOXY^® has no applicability limits.
CHEAPNESS: Apart from few materials which are required in order to assemble the gas-tight enclosures, the VELOXY^® system needs just the electric supply to create the anoxic environment. The great advantage of the VELOXY^®, compared to the application of chemicals, is that the artworks can be treated in its entirety and it permits to save time.

 Which are the advantages of choosing Veloxy instead of microwave systems in order to eliminate woodworms and other parasites?

One of the many peculiarities of the VELOXY^® system is that it does not change some essential parameters for the proper conservation of artworks.
TEMPERATURE: The primary effect of microwaves is the rising of the temperature of the treated materials and, although it is useful for the elimination of parasites, this increase generally produces a traumatic effect for artworks. The effects could even be disastrous if the treated materials are heat sensitive (glue, dyes, etc). Using the VELOXY^® system, the temperatures of the anoxic environment and the storage place do not change.
EXPANSION: Another disadvantage of using microwaves is that this method creates some temperature gradients in treated artworks, it means to subject artworks to different temperatures at the same moment. When a material is subjected to a temperature change, it expands or contracts; as the microwave process implies temperature gradients between different points of the artwork, it creates tensions that can ruin the artwork, also permanently. In fact, there are points where it reaches and exceeds 90 °C and points at ambient temperature. On the internet can be easily found various thermal images that highlight the disastrous evolution of the inner thermal gradient. Using the VELOXY^® system this does not happen because, as mentioned, not only the temperature is constant and homogenous, but it remains the ambient temperature.
HUMIDITY: The best characteristics of a storage place for artworks are represented not only by ideal temperature but also by an optimal range of relative humidity. Unfortunately, the raising of the temperature implies the lowering of the relative humidity, resulting in a dehydration that may cause serious damages. Using the VELOXY^® system, the relative humidity of the anoxic atmosphere, where the treated artworks are put, can be adjusted from 15% to 95%, without modifying the balance.
SHOCK: The sudden change of temperature and humidity conditions cause a serious damage to artworks and this is strongly discouraged by all the authorities involved in safeguarding and preservation of cultural heritage and art in general. The VELOXY^® system permits not to submit artworks to any kind of stress.
APPLICABILITY: The VELOXY^® system has no harmful effects on any type of material, while microwaves cannot be used on certain materials. For example, it is necessary to remove metallic materials (nails, hinges, joints, etc), but some metal oxides are commonly used for the creation of the paintings and, consequently it may be very risky treating paintings through microwaves.
EFFECTIVENESS: Even though microwaves are set properly, when artworks are not homogeneous, it is impossible to make an adjustment that is effective and safe at the same time for each part of the artworks. For example, if a wooden sculpture is made of thicker and thinner parts and if it is wanted to preserve the thinnest parts, the thickest ones may not be deeply penetrated by microwaves; whilst, on the other hand, if it is wanted to preserve the thickest parts, the thinner ones may be damaged. 

 I am a private and I have a worm-eaten table and some worm-eaten chairs, how long does your treatment last?

In this situation, the fulfilment of the gas-tight enclosure for the treated objects and the creation of the anoxic environment take about three hours. Afterwards the VELOXY^® will be taken away and the treated objects must stay sealed in the enclosure, where it was previously created the modified (anoxic) atmosphere, for at least 22/23 days.

  Is it necessary to transport objects, that must to be disinfected, to your laboratory or you can come and perform an on-site treatment?

The VELOXY^® system is a really easy-to-move machine, in fact it weighs about 19 kg, and it is compact (120 x 30 x 40 cm), it means that it can be transported anywhere. It implies that the preferred option can be chosen.

 

Please, do not hesitate to contact us if you require any information, our references or further details about our machineries: it will be a real pleasure for us.
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