Several paint samples set up for testing with metal coupons attached to the beakers. The samples will be placed in sealed jars in a heated oven to determine the effect of the paints on the metals.

Exhibitions Conservation: Current Projects

Materials testing

Testing of materials used for the exhibition and storage of objects is an ongoing project for Exhibitions Conservation. The primary focus is to determine whether a material is potentially hazardous to the objects in the collection, either through direct contact or offgassing, which refers to the release of gas trapped inside a material. Materials that have been examined include paints, fabrics, and construction materials. In particular, there has been a focus on developing and testing possible woods and wood products for use in constructing exhibition cases.