Alginate based materials have become an important class of products in many fields from the pharmaceutical industry to tissue engineering, because of their ability to create stimuli responsive hydrogels.We present a new technical approach for obtaining a controlled gelling process, based on the quantities of Ca2+ rich alginate micro-beads added as crosslinkers. The gels have been evaluated in light of the amount of Ca2+ added to the alginate solution, and in light of the different dimensions of the micro-beads,using rheological measurements to assess the variation in the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G'') and complex viscosity as well as swelling and deswelling tests. The methodology was developed toobtain a material with specific characteristics for application in the field of conservation. The materialhad to be able to create a stable gel after being applied on the artwork surface and to confine the solvent action at the interface during cleaning operations.