MS3 Special Resin: A New Era in Art Conservation
Why We Are Telling This Story
At Deffner & Johann, we don’t just supply materials – we share the science, the challenges, and the innovation behind them. This blog post introduces MS3, a new-generation synthetic resin for painting conservation. Whether you are replacing MS2A, searching for a more stable and sustainable alternative, or just curious about new museum-grade resins, this is the story behind the breakthrough.
The Importance of Varnish in Conservation Work
Varnishes are essential in conservation for three primary reasons:
- Protection: They shield paintings from dust, moisture, and environmental damage.
- Aesthetic Enhancement: They enrich colour saturation, contrast, and surface finish.
- Reversibility: Ensures that the varnish can be safely removed without affecting the original paint layers – allowing future conservators to retreat or adapt treatments as needed.
Historically, natural resins like dammar and mastic were widely used, but they deteriorate over time – yellowing, cracking, and distorting the original appearance of the artwork.
The Resin Challenge: Why Did Change Become Necessary?
Despite their popularity, natural resins are:
- chemically unstable
- susceptible to oxidation and moisture
- difficult to remove without damaging paint layers
Early synthetic resins aimed to address these issues but often lacked optical quality or became insoluble over time – a major conservation concern if the resins are used for retouching varnishing.
MS2A: A Game-Changer – Until It Wasn't
Developed by Garry Thomson in 1962, MS2A was a modified ketone resin that combined aesthetic quality with improved solubility. For decades, it was the gold standard.
But in 2014, production ceased due to manufacturer shutdowns, leaving a critical gap in the market and forcing conservators to seek a new, reliable alternative.
Introducing MS3 Special Resin: The Contemporary Upgrade to MS2A
Developed by Australia’s CSIRO, in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria and Boron Molecular, MS3 resin was designed to deliver:
- enhanced visual properties: brilliant optical clarity, glossy surface and visual qualities.
- superior chemical stability: no long-term visible yellowing and cracking.
- batch-to-batch consistency: thanks to cutting-edge flow chemistry.
This is not just a replacement for MS2A – MS3 is its smarter, more advanced successor.
What is Flow Chemistry and Why It Matters with Regard to MS3?
Flow chemistry is a modern manufacturing technique that replaces the traditional batch production process with a continuous, controlled reaction system. This innovative approach ensures consistent resin quality by maintaining precise control over reaction conditions throughout production.
Additionally, flow chemistry is more environmentally friendly, as it generates less waste and reduces the ecological footprint of manufacturing. Thanks to this advanced method, MS3 resin achieves superior batch-to-batch reliability and consistency – an important improvement over many traditional resins that often suffer from variability.
Trusted Worldwide
Since its launch in December 2019, MS3 has been adopted by over 40 major institutions – including Kimbell Art Museum and National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. – worldwide. Museums and conservation professionals praise its ease of use, long-term stability, and beautiful surface finish – making it a standout solution for today’s conservation needs.
In Sum
MS3 is more than a product – it reflects scientific progress in art conservation in the context of resin utilisation. Its performance, reversibility, rapid solubility, and environmental responsibility make it a new benchmark in surface protection materials for cultural heritage.
Quick Comparison: MS3 vs. Traditional and Earlier Synthetic Resins
| Feature | Natural Resins (Dammar, Mastic) |
MS2A Resin | MS3 Special Resin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Stability | Low – prone to yellowing and cracking over time | Improved – no/low yellowing | High – enhanced chemical stability, minimal discoloration |
| Surface Gloss and Aesthetic Quality | Good initially but deteriorates with discolouration | Excellent, natural-looking gloss and colour saturation | Superior gloss with rich colour saturation and surface wetting |
| Solubility | Less soluble | Good soluble in solvents | Highly soluble in mildly polar solvents |
| Reversibility | Difficult to remove without damage | Good reversibility | Higher reversibility, no risk of dissolving retouching work (easier and safer removal) |
| Durability | Brittle, prone to cracking and yellowing | Durable, but production discontinued | Durable with no long-term yellowing, brittleness or cracking |
| Production Consistency | Variable due to natural source | Batch production – limited consistency | Continuous flow chemistry – high consistency |
| Environmental Impact | Natural but resource-dependent | Traditional chemical batch process (no longer available) | Eco-friendly, lower waste production via flow chemistry |
| Availability | Widely available | Discontinued (since 2014) | Commercially available since 2019 |
| User Feedback | Mixed, due to aging issues | Positive, historically trusted | Very positive, adopted by 40+ institutions worldwide since 2019 |
Want to Know More?
Take a look at the MS3 product page, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram for further insights, product news, expert tips and practical examples relating to the use of MS3, or find out more with user videos and tips on products from the range on the D&J YouTube channel.
