Eisengarn und Stahlrohr

Untersuchungen am B 35 von Marcel Breuer

Abstract

‚Eisengarn’ and tubular steel. An examination of Marcel Breuer’s B35
As an everyday object tubular steel chairs often show clear traces of wear. These characteristic signs of ageing are particularly evident on models where tubular steel and fabric upholstery are combined. ‘Eisengarn’ or ‘iron yarn’ fabric (a sturdy paraffin treated cotton) is a material nearly unknown in technical literature. Marcel Breuer employed it to form the seat and back of the tubular steel chairs he designed at the beginning of the 20th century. Scientific analysis was carried out on the „Eisengarn“ and tubular steel used to manufacture his B 35 lounge chair to define the material properties and identify corrosion processes. To remove the corrosion several tests of various dry and wet cleaning methods were developed including the complexing agents Na2-EDTA, DTPA, H BED and oxalic acid. The test series showed that dry cleaning using a microbeam in combination with wet cleaning with an oxalic Acid could significantly reduce the corrosion products. Laser cleaning was employed to remove the corrosion of the tubular steel.