Mechanical Characterization of Historic and Artistic Materials

Studying the mechanical properties of art materials to determine safe temperature and humidity variations for mixed collections in museums

Project Details

Two people talk while examining an object in a science lab

About

Goal

Mechanical Characterization of Historic and Artistic Materials aims at defining the conditions under which physical damage occurs in cultural heritage materials as a result of climatic agents of deterioration. Better understanding of these conditions can help collections care professionals quantify the changes that occur in susceptible materials exposed to the broader acceptable climatic ranges currently under consideration by the conservation field and to understand the rate and degree of fluctuation these materials can withstand.

Outcomes

  • Improved understanding of the mechanical properties of cultural heritage materials and the critical environmental conditions that lead to irreversible change
  • Creation of a specialized mechanical testing laboratory for cultural heritage materials that includes a wide range of testing techniques and which can accommodate different sample shapes and dimensions
  • More accurate assessment of the susceptibility of cultural heritage materials to physical change caused by climatic agents of deterioration
  • Development of testing techniques that allow for measurements of stresses and resulting strains in a wide range of samples, in various climatic conditions, and with a combination of static and dynamic testing

Background

Approach

Project Team

Michał Łukomski, Senior Scientist; Alexandra Bridarolli, Assistant Scientist; Naoki Fujisawa, Scientist