Objectives and Approach

The main objective of the project is to provide a system of rapid measurement of damage caused by conditions in the environment surrounding works of art, and particularly paintings, in museums and historic buildings.

This will be approached in stages, namely:

1) Preparation and exposure of the paint damage dosimeter .
2) Additional testing, using a method of artificial ageing by pollutant gases.
3) Development of a new dosimeter using piezoelectric quartz crystal technology*, eventually, after calibration in known environments, providing conservators with a capability to evaluate the cumulative risk of contaminants via a direct read-out, as opposed to sophisticated chemical analysis.

An array of coated piezoelectric crystals is envisaged which will incorporate relative humidity correction and protective housings for the crystals against particles. The response profiles will define the potential for environmental damage, also on a continuous basis. This would ensure that effects of episodic events where contaminants are released in an unpredictable way, as possibly during transport, would be measured.