consolidant

Consolidants are materials used in art conservation to strengthen and stabilize fragile objects. These substances are introduced into the material to reinforce its structure and prevent further decay.

For paintings, consolidants can be applied to reattach lifting paint layers or to reinforce weakened canvas. In ceramics, they are used to strengthen the material before mending, often with acrylic copolymers or alkoxy silanes that create a silica network within the ceramic body. Stone sculptures also benefit from consolidants, such as lime water or synthetic polymers, to reinstate cohesive strength in "sugary" or delaminating stone.123

The goal of using consolidants is to preserve the artwork's integrity while maintaining reversibility and minimizing changes to its appearance.23