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Current Conservation Research at CCICurrent Conservation Research at CCI

David Grattan

Manager of Conservation Research Canadian Conservation Institute

Ottawa, Canada.

Recent issues which have affected CCI’s Recent issues which have affected CCI’s research programme. research programme.

• Lab. closure from 2003 to 2008• Labs now finished – new – newly

equipped• Key staff beginning to retire

CCI’s approach to researchCCI’s approach to research

– Consultation with clients.– Development and approval of

project proposals – with timelines.

– Doing the research.– Dissemination.

• Guided by the RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

RESEARCH FRAMEWORKRESEARCH FRAMEWORK

• Foundation Research results in new knowledge or techniques needed as building blocks

for other research • Applied scientific research answers

conservation questions and results in new

knowledge for treatments or for collections.• Treatment and Methods Development

• Collections Preservation Research results in frameworks, tools or standards for the

preservation of heritage collections

Consultation with clientsConsultation with clients

• Sessions at meetings of Canadian Association for Conservation (CAC)

• Consultations with Canadian Council for Archives (CCA)

• Canadian Museums Association (CMA)

• CCI Symposia

• Collegial dialogue

Client Drivers* and other influences Client Drivers* and other influences on selection of research topicson selection of research topics

1) Impact of Research – Impact on Preservation of Heritage Collections in

Canada

o Potential or pending loss of collection o More effective and affordable collections preservationo Canadian Climatic Conditions

– Impact on the Accessibility and Understanding of Canadian Collections Preservation of Heritage Collections in Canada

o Significant Materials and Object Typeso Canadian Artists and Creators

* i.e. “client drivers” are factors related to the client

or to the object which make research essential.

Drivers and Influences continued:Drivers and Influences continued:

2. Corporate Drivers and Other Considerations

– Departmental and Government of Canada Priorities

– CCI Expertise and Equipment– Conservation Research outside CCI – Partnerships– Time

Current Research ProjectsCurrent Research Projects

COLLECTIONS – RISK

• Analysis of mammal storage-cabinet infestation severity through a ten-year annual regime of specimen inspections.

• Evaluating Risk for Intergrated Pest Management.• Fracture of wood due to RH fluctuations.• Light Damage Calculator and Database. • Web-Based Collection Risk Assessment Tool• Preservation of Works on Paper with Iron Gall Ink in

Canadian Collections –Risk Assessment Survey.

METALS• An Investigation into the Causes of Indoor

Bronze Sculpture Corrosion: A Case Study• Treatment of Corroded Lead using an

Electrochemical Technique

MODERN MEDIA• Cold Storage of Optical Discs• Cold Storage of VHS Tapes• Effect of Jewel Cases on the Longevity of

CDs and DVDs• Effect of Pollutants on the Relative

Stabilities of Optical Discs• Stability of Optical Discs and Magnetic

Tapes

PAPER• Preservation of Works on Paper with Iron Gall

Ink in Canadian Collections.• Study on the Effectiveness of Bookkeeper

Deacidification Technology Using the Arrhenius Relationship.

PESTICIDES• Collections contaminated by Pesticides.

PIGMENTS

• Iron Oxide Pigments: Natural and Synthetic.

STONE• Characterization of Imitation Stone in Outdoor

Monuments and Sculpture.

ADHESIVES• Effect of Modifiers on the Stability of a Vinyl

Acetate/Ethylene (VAE) Copolymer Emulsion Adhesive

• Evaluation of Cyanoacrylate Adhesives for the Conservation of Fossils

• Evaluation of Tapes and Heat-set Tissues

AMBER• Characterization of Canadian Amber

ARCHAEOLOGY• Iron Stain Removal from Archaeological

Composite Artifacts made of Wood and Iron• Comparison of PEG and Glycerol for the

Treatment of Archaeological Leather• Development of a Conservation Treatment for

Waterlogged Basketry

UNDERWATER COLLECTION• Collection and documentation of deteriorated of

materials from heritage aircraft wrecks in fresh water

• Corrosion Rates for Iron Components of Shipwrecks at Fathom Five National Marine Park

• Erosion of Wood in Freshwater Shipwrecks

LEATHER/SKIN• Analytical Development: Image Analysis for

Microscopical Shrinkage Temperature Measurements of Collagenous Fibers

FINISHES• Transparent finishes on wooden furniture in

Canada, to 1914

CLEANING• Mould Research Project: Determination of

Effectiveness of Target Treatments in the Removal of Visible Mould Growth from Organic Substrates (Paper)

TEXTILES• Effectiveness of Bathophenanthroline Test

Strips for identifying Iron Ions on Textiles• Evaluation of Treatments for Stabilization of

Iron Containing Textiles• Investigation of wide format digital inkjet

printing of sheer fabrics for textile conservation• Setting Fugitive Dyes on Cotton and Silk

Textiles: Adding Salts, Vinegar, and Using Cyclododecane and Different Drying Methods

PAINTINGS• CCI Lining Project; Phase III - Assessment of the

Performance of Lining Supports on Model Paintings

• Technical and Scientific Examination of A.Y. Jackson’s Paint Boxes

• Materials and Techniques of : Marc-Aurèle Fortin (1888-1970)

Cornelius Krieghoff (1815-1872) David B. Milne (1882-1952) Aide-Créquy (1749-1780 Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923-2002) Louis Dulongpré (1759-1843) Norval Morrisseau (1936-2007)

NEW in 2008• Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors in the post-

treatment washing phase of archaeological metals

• The evaluation of adhesives for waterlogged wood

• The measurement of GAB parameters.• Evaluation of new molecular forms of PEG• The development of the microfading

technique• Shock and fragility studies part 1 and 2• The influence of vibration on small canvas

paintings• The evaluation of the Resistograph for

testing decayed wood.

Why GAB parameters?Why GAB parameters?• Recent research (Gurnagul and Zou) shows that the

deterioration rate of paper is dependant on MC rather than RH. One implication is that the isoperm equation which assumes that RH and MC are directly proportional – needs to be recalculated - best descriptor of relationship between RH and MC is the GAB equation

GAB is

m = mo*C*K*Aw/[(1-k*Aw)(1-K*Aw+C*K*Aw)]

Where Aw the activity of water = RH/100, m is moisture content, mo at monolayer waterC and K are the GAB parameters.

P is permanence or expected lifetime and C and K are GAB parameters.

This simplifies to the following quadratic expression which allows solution for Aw2

Where N is a complex constant which Where N is a complex constant which includes Pincludes P22/P/P11

The revised Isoperm equation which includes The revised Isoperm equation which includes temperature independent GAB parameters:temperature independent GAB parameters:

Equilibrium Equilibrium moisture moisture detector – detector – measures measures

GAB GAB parameters parameters

vs. vs. temperturetemperture

Areas of special interestAreas of special interest

• Development of the portable lab. for conservation

Scientist- Nancy Binnie – working with Conservator Jim Hay to open windows in the paint and measure colour with the Minolta hand-held spectrophotometer the original colour scheme

Working on the interior of buildings

Statue of Queen Victoria – inside Library of Parliament.Statue of Queen Victoria – inside Library of Parliament.

On-site analytical instrument – On-site analytical instrument – Fourier Transform Infrared Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer. Fibre optic Spectrometer. Fibre optic measures reflection spectrum measures reflection spectrum and allows on-site non-and allows on-site non-destructive analysis.destructive analysis.

On site scientific techniques applied to the On site scientific techniques applied to the statue of Queen Victoria – inside Library of statue of Queen Victoria – inside Library of

Parliament.Parliament.

The FTIR The FTIR reflectance reflectance spectrometer spectrometer used to used to identify the identify the surface surface contamination contamination on the Statue on the Statue of Queen of Queen VictoriaVictoria

In-situ IR reflection spectra to detect treatment residues

Attenuated Total Attenuated Total reflection (ATR) is also reflection (ATR) is also available as an on site available as an on site FTIR technique with FTIR technique with this instrument.this instrument.

Used to analyze inks in the Archimedes Palimpsest – oldest known text of Archimedes theorems – in Walters Art Gallery- Baltimore.

Instrument portability allows CCI to offer service anywhere.

Built-in TV camera Built-in TV camera allows semi allows semi microscopic selection microscopic selection of detail for spectral of detail for spectral measurement – and measurement – and

In this instance the analysis of original ink (Blue spectrum) and later –post palimpsest ink (Red Spectrum).

Dissemination - publicatiionsDissemination - publicatiions