On-site scientific services – general information

Information from on-site testing

The information provided by on-site testing can be applied in a number of ways:

• substances in collections that could be health hazards can be identified immediately;
• the identification of the chemical composition of museum objects can aid in choosing conservation treatments and storage methods, as well as in detecting imitation and substitute materials;
• colour measurements allow documentation or colour matching, as well as monitoring of stability during exhibition, storage, conservation treatment and natural weathering;
• the characterization of properties such as colour gloss and thickness can be useful in monitoring the durability and service lifetime of protective coatings;
• the assessment of wood degradation can help to determine the stability and condition prior to treatment;
• vibration monitoring can ensure compliance with thresholds and standards during construction activity or when vibration comes from other sources;
• the assessment of light and radiation levels in exhibition and storage areas can aid in better understanding the risks to light-sensitive objects; and
• microfade testing can identify objects that are at high risk of damage from exposure to light.

On-site testing on materials and objects

On-site testing can be conducted on diverse materials and objects. These include:

• technological and scientific objects;
• natural history specimens;
• industrial and military objects;
• works of art, textiles, paper, paintings, sculptures and architectural elements;
• modern materials;
• household plastic objects, such as dinnerware;
• plastic costume accessories and jewellery;
• coatings and adhesives;
• paint, varnish and wood; and
• corroded metal and metal patina.

Benefits

On-site testing offers unique benefits. The objects need not be moved from their museum location. They can be analyzed directly on gallery walls or in display cases, storage cabinets and drawers, thereby eliminating shipping costs, damage during transport and time lost for packing and moving objects. In some cases, no samples are required and there is no physical contact with the object.