Recommendations for Departmental Collections Policies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Silica Gel ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Stable Condition ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Iron Corrosion ◽  
Conservation Treatment ◽  
Greek Revival

An aged and heavily corroded horizontal iron rim lock for the left side of a door was examined at the request of Anson (“Tuck”) Hines, Director of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). The lock was reportedly found by a contractor on SERC’s property during renovation, and the iron corrosion is typical of exposure to the elements. It was anticipated that the lock would date from the time of the oldest part of the Sellman/Kirkpatrick-Howat house constructed in 1735 or its Greek Revival enlargement in 1841. Examination of the lock included x-radiography. A recommendation was made to not conduct further conservation treatment, such as removal of iron corrosion, because it would threaten the structural integrity of the object. Instead it was advised that the lock be exhibited in a case with conditioned silica gel and regularly monitored, which should keep it in stable condition.

scholarly journals Examination and Treatment Report for a Carpenter & Co. Lock Found at SERC: Museum Conservation Institute #6955

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Grissom ◽  
E. Keats Webb ◽  
Thomas Lam
Keyword(s):  
Silica Gel ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Stable Condition ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Iron Corrosion ◽  
Conservation Treatment ◽  
Greek Revival ◽  
Museum Conservation

An aged and heavily corroded horizontal iron rim lock for the left side of a door was examined at the request of the director of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). The lock was reportedly found by a contractor on SERC’s property during renovation, and the iron corrosion is typical of exposure to the elements. It was anticipated that the lock would date from the time of the oldest part of the Sellman/Kirkpatrick-Howat house constructed in 1735 or its Greek Revival enlargement in 1841. Examination of the lock included x-radiography. A recommendation was made to not conduct further conservation treatment, such as removal of iron corrosion, because it would threaten the structural integrity of the object. Instead it was advised that the lock be exhibited in a case with conditioned silica gel and regularly monitored, which should keep it in stable condition.

scholarly journals Hybrid nanocomposites made of diol-modified silanes and nanostructured calcium hydroxide. Applications to Alum-treated wood

2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Andriulo ◽  
Rodorico Giorgi ◽  
Calin Constantin Steindal ◽  
Hartmut Kutzke ◽  
Susan Braovac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Hydroxide ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Treated Wood ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Hybrid Nanocomposites ◽  
Viking Age ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Conservation Treatment ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy

AbstractThe alum-treated Viking Age archaeological wooden objects from the Oseberg find have undergone extensive chemical deterioration due to the original conservation treatment, based on alum salts (KAl(SO4)2·12H2O), done in the early 1900s. Today, the artifacts are highly acidic (pH≤2) and fragile; in some cases wood has almost completely lost its structural integrity. Research on conservation methods for these finds is currently underway. In the present study, organic/inorganic multi-functional ‘hybrid systems’ – using propylene glycol modified TEOS and alkaline nanoparticles (Ca(OH)2) – have been engineered to deacidify and consolidate alum-treated wood in a single step. The advantage of using silicon monomer and nano-materials as a starting point resides in their ease of penetration into the wood structure, where silicon monomers subsequently undergo polymerization. Treated samples were investigated using thermal analysis (DTG), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), SEM/EDX and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Results suggest that in addition to consolidating the wood, alkoxysilanes could act as a bridging agent between remaining lignin and calcium hydroxide nanoparticles.

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