🇬🇧 Oddy Test reloaded — Innovations in pollution testing
The negative impact of air pollution for museums and collections has been known for many years. Inadequate materials used for objects on display, as well as for packing in storage contribute to poor air quality — threatening collections, staff and visitors. As new products enter the market every day, pollution testing is crucial for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in museum and collections.
A rather practical and comprehensive method to detect pollutants has been introduced in 1973 — the so called Oddy-Test [1]. The test is based on the corrositivity of thin metal plates (silver, copper and lead) with volatile organic compounds. The plates are inserted in a glass reaction vessel, together with 0.5 ml distilled water and two grams of test material. The set-up is then placed in a hot cabinet at 60°C for 28 days [2]. After reaction time, test results are visually examined and the amount of corrosion is categorized following a traffic light system: green for permanent use, yellow for temporary (up to 6 month), and red for unsuiteable materials.
Allthough the Oddy-Test is widely spread and has been implemented by museums from all over the world, the vast variety of equipment currently in use, as well as the subjective evaluation method are the main factors compromising the test. Therefore, project MAT-CH (MATerial CHecker) aims to innovate and standardize test equipment and procedures. So far, HTW Berlin’s research has concentrated on two components: the reaction vessel and the evaluation method [3].
To continue the innovation process, MAT-CH 2.0 will further develop reproducable indicator plates. Up to now, these consists of bulk metals from silver, copper and lead. Also, their preparation involves manual cutting and cleaning, leading to high preparation times, irregular results and waste of scarce resources. MAT-CH 2.0 aims to reduce these errors. Therefore, bulk metals will be replaced by glass carriers (substrates) and be coated with thinmetals using gas deposition techniques.
In cooperation with TU Berlin, Institute for High-Frequency and Semiconductor System Technologies (HFT), various options for carriers, coatings and lamination strength / desity are currently under examination.
[1] ODDY 1973: Andrew W. Oddy, An Unsuspected Danger in Display, in: Museums Journal 73 (1973), Nr. 1, p. 27–28.
[2] ROBINET / THICKETT 2003: Lorna R. Robinet; David Thickett, A New Methodology for Accelerated Corrosion Testing, in: Studies in Conservation 48 (2003), p. 263–268.
[3] HEINE / JEBERIEN 2018: Hildegard Heine; Alexandra Jeberien: Oddy Test Reloaded: Standardized Test Equipment and Evaluation Methods for Accelerated Corrosion Testing, in: Studies in Conservation 63 (2018), p. 362–365.
