paint samples on metal strips attached to glass beakers
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.

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.


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