Preventive Conservation Research and Practice at the British Museum

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Preventive Conservation Research and Practice at the British MuseumAuthor(s): Susan BradleySource: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Vol. 44, No. 3 (Fall-Winter,2005), pp. 159-173Published by: Maney Publishing on behalf of The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & ArtisticWorksStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40025148 .

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PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM

SUSAN BRADLEY

ABSTRACT - Since the early 1970s the conservation scientists at the British Museum have pursued a

program of research in what has become known as

preventive conservation. This object-centered research almost always was initiated as investigation into the cause of deterioration, to gain an understanding of treatment and environmental requirements for stabilization. The majority of galleries and object storage areas are not equipped with air-handling systems; such systems are not always feasible in a building which is itself of such importance that it has been designated grade one listed by English Heritage. Solutions have thus involved micro-environments tailored to the needs of groups of objects. A continuing theme has been the role in deterioration played by pollutant gases, particularly reduced sulfide gases and organic acids. This paper presents an overview of these inves-

tigations in the broader context of preventive conservation practice in the British Museum.

TITRE - Recherche et mise en pratique de la conservation preventive au British Museum. RESUME - Depuis le debut des annees 70 les scien-

tifiques de la conservation du British Museum (musee national britannique) ont poursuivi un programme de recherche en conservation preventive. Cette recherche centree sur les objets a presque toujours debute en tant qu' etude sur les causes de la deterioration, afin de mieux comprendre les necessites de traitement et les conditions ambiantes ideales pour la stabilisation. La majorite des salles d' exposition et de reserve ne sont pas equipees de systemes de climati- sation; de tels systemes ne sont pas toujours possibles dans un batiment qui est lui-meme d'une telle

importance historique qu'il a ete classe dans la cate-

gorie de plus haute importance etablie par English Heritage (heritage anglais). Les solutions ont ainsi

implique des micro-environnements concus en fonc- tion des besoins de groupes particuliers d'objets. Un theme constant de la recherche a ete le role joue dans la deterioration par les gaz polluants, en particulier les

gaz sulfureux reduits et les acides organiques. Cet article presente une vue d' ensemble de ces investiga- tions dans le contexte plus large de la pratique en matiere de conservation preventive au musee.

TITULO - Investigacion y practica de la conservacion preventiva en el British Museum (Museo

Britanico). RESUMEN - Desde principios de la decada de 1970 los cientificos de conservacion del British Museum (Museo Britanico) se dedican al area de investigacion conocida como conservacion preventiva. Esta investigacion centrada en los objetos comenzo como una busqueda de las causas de deterioro para entender mejor los tratamientos y requisitos ambientales adecuados para su estabilizacion. La mayoria de las galerias y areas de almacenamiento no estan equipadas con sistemas de aire acondicionado; estos sistemas no son siempre factibles en edificios que por si mismos son de tal importancia que han sido designados de grado uno en la lista de English Heritage (Patrimonio Ingles). Asi, las soluciones han involucrado micro-ambientes ajustados a las necesi- dades de grupos de objetos. Un tema recurrente ha sido el rol de los gases contaminantes en el deterioro de los objetos, en particular el de los gases sulfurosos y los acidos organicos. Este trabajo presenta una vision general de estas investigaciones en el contexto mas amplio de las practicas de conservacion preventiva en el British Museum (Museo Britanico).

TITULO - Pesquisa e pratica em conservacao preventiva no British Museum (Museu Britanico). RESUMO - Desde o inicio da decada de 1970 os cientistas de conservacao do British Museum (Museu Britanico) tern seguido um programa de pesquisa que ficou conhecido como conservacao preventiva. Esta pesquisa baseada no objeto foi quase sempre iniciada pela investigacao sobre as causas de deterioracao, a fim de compreender o tratamento e as necessidades ambientais necessarios para a estabilizacao. A maioria das galerias e areas de armazenagem de objetos nao estao equipadas com sistemas de controle de ar; tais sistemas nem sempre sao viaveis em edificios, os quais por si so tern tamanha importancia que sao classificados como grau um na listagem do English Heritage (Patrimomio Ingles). Por conseguinte, as solucoes envolvendo micro-ambientes sao desen- hadas a medida das necessidades de grupos de objetos. Um tema constante tern sido o papel dos gases poluentes, em particular dos gases sulfuricos e acidos organcios, na deterioracao. Este artigo apresenta uma visao geral destas investigates no contexto mais amplo da pratica da conservacao preventiva no British Museum (Museu Britanico).

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1. INTRODUCTION

The importance of the interaction of environment and collections was recognized long before the then Keeper of the British Museum Research Laboratory published The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art (Plenderleith 1956). This book contains a section on "The Influence of Environment" based on research on the deterioration of objects in the collection carried out by the Museum scientists between 1922 and 1950. By today's standards the information is rudimentary, but it did give useful guidance on collections care. In parallel to the work at the British Museum, research into the effects of the environment on oil paintings and on Japanese art was being carried out in other institutions. This work informed two important publications, The Museum Environment (Thomson 1978) and Characteristics of Japanese Art that Condition Its Care (Toishi and Washizuka 1987), both of which have contributed to the framework of what has become known as preventive conservation.

In the early 1970s, under the leadership of A. E. A. Werner, British Museum conservation scientists began a concerted program of research into the effects of the environment on the collection. This research was driven by the development of new galleries and the need to establish whether or not control of temperature and/or relative humidity was needed to safeguard the objects, to justify its inclusion in the projects.

There were several reasons not to attempt large- scale climate control. First of all, being designated grade one listed by English Heritage means that the British Museum building is of such historical importance that it should be maintained in its original form. Putting in air conditioning for galleries without affecting the structure is very costly, aside from the expense of installation, running, maintenance, and replacement of the systems. Secondly, the trend was away from single-object galleries, such as the run of upper floor galleries displaying Greek pottery, to thematic mixed-object galleries where no one environment would be suitable for all of the objects. Finally, much of the collection is stable in the ambient conditions in the Museum and air conditioning was simply not needed. Hence, simple approaches and targeted control were favored for the display and storage of those objects which were found likely to dete- riorate in normal ambient conditions.

The research focused on single objects or groups of objects which were deteriorating, to identify the

JAIC 44 (2005): 159-1 73

cause and a method of prevention. The role of relative humidity soon became apparent. Determining an

appropriate relative humidity and suitable method of control was part of the prevention strategy. Gases

given off by the materials used in storage and display, and sometimes given off by the objects themselves, were found to cause corrosion of metal objects and to form mixed salts on the surface of some porous stone and ceramic objects.

In this paper an overview of the research between 1970 and 2005 on temperature, relative humidity, and

pollutant gases is put in the context of the development of preventive conservation practice in the British Museum.

2. TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY

2.1 COPPER ALLOY, WEEPING GLASS, IVORY AND BONE

2.1.1 Copper Alloy

In the 1960s and '70s the emphasis of conservation in the British Museum was on the treatment of objects. Stabilization through treatments, such as soaking bronzes in sodium sesquicarbonate solution or strip- ping to remove corrosion layers, was seen as the

appropriate response to deterioration. In the Museum Research Laboratory, studies into the deterioration of

copper alloy artifacts had shown that bronze disease could be prevented by controlling the relative humid-

ity to below 35%, stopping the reaction of nantokite with copper metal and moisture from the air to form

paratacamite (Organ 1963). This research was implemented in the design of

six new galleries opened between 1968 and 1975. Dehumidified showcases were incorporated to

display Middle and Near Eastern copper alloy objects which were particularly prone to bronze disease. The showcases were controlled with desiccant dehumidifiers supplied by Munters Ltd. (Newey 1987). A dehumidified storage area was constructed for the

copper alloy objects not on display. Although it took some time to limit the use of chemical stabilization methods to those objects for which a controlled environment could not be provided, control of relative

humidity is now the primary method of preventing bronze disease.



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2.1.2 Weeping Glass

Weeping glass was shown to be stable if kept at an RH of 38-42%, and all of the weeping or criz- zled glass was moved to a dehumidified showcase where the objects could be viewed without being handled (Organ and Bimson 1957; Werner 1958). This decision was based on the identification of potassium carbonate salts on the surface of the glass. At that time, analysis was restricted to those ions expected to be present, so it is not known whether some of the ions detected today on the surface of glass were present in the 1950s (Bimson 2004). The critical relative humidity for potassium carbonate was determined as 42%, above which it takes up moisture from the air, forming surface droplets which give the appearance of sweating and provide an aqueous medium into which more alkali ions can be leached from the glass.

2.1.3 Ivory and Bone

The collection contains ivory and bone objects from many different cultures of widely differing ages. Among the highlights of the collection are the Lewis chessmen, carved from walrus ivory and dated to AD 1150-1200. Some of the chessmen were found to be cracking and exfoliating and in 1970-71 all the pieces were examined by scientists working in Dental Anatomy at University College London, who identified the cause of the problem ( Boyd 1971). The chess pieces which were deteriorating had been carved in walrus ivory which had been boiled. This had caused denaturing which made the ivory more susceptible to cracking in response to changes in relative humidity. In 1978 the chessmen were exhibited in a showcase controlled by a ducted humidifier to 50-60% RH. Recently this has been redefined to 45-55% as the control achieved was always close to 50% and the chessmen remain stable.

Ivory objects from Nimrud which had been burnt in antiquity are not humidified. They have been stable in an uncontrolled storage area that has naturally maintained 40-45% RH and have been seen to react adversely to higher and lower relative humidity. The most dramatic disruption occurred when an ivory lion head (ANE 132697) fragmented following a move to new storage. It was found to have fractured along old cracks which had been consolidated with

polyvinyl acetate resin. Soluble salts, gypsum, and halite were present in the cracks and their crystalliza-

tion at the low relative humidity sustained during the move was considered a contributory factor in the deterioration of the object (Thickett and Bradley 1998).

2.1.4 Control of Relative Humidity in Showcases and Storage Areas

For copper alloy objects susceptible to bronze disease, weeping glass, and ivory, the control of relative humidity in both showcases and storage areas has been achieved by only dehumidifying to maintain a low relative humidity and only humidifying to maintain a higher relative humidity. There has been respectively no counter humidification or dehumid- ification, and no temperature control other than winter heating. This has meant that for the dehumidified cases the winter low internal relative humidity has been accepted and for humidified cases the summer high relative humidity has been accepted. The relative humidity inside the controlled showcases has drifted accordingly, although the well-sealed showcases in use since 1988 buffer effectively against the peaks and troughs in relative humidity. The fact that no observable damage has occurred to any of the copper alloy or ivory objects in a controlled relative humidity has justified this approach. There have been instances of glass apparently starting to weep in the dehumidified case. Research into this problem is ongoing with the focus on occasional very low relative humidity compared to the target of of 38-42% RH, and high levels of indoor pollutant gases in the dehumidified case.

2.2 COMPLEX MATERIALS

2.2.1 Lindow Man

When Lindow Man, a freeze-dried bog body dated to the Iron Age, was put on exhibition, avoid- ing the seasonal extremes of relative humidity was thought necessary. Having no idea how the body would react to changes in relative humidity, Museum scientists and conservators were keen to stabilize the environment as much as possible. The body had been immersed in a solution of polyethylene glycol 400 prior to freeze-drying and after treatment was accli- matized to ambient conditions in the Museum (Omar et al. 1989). Because low molecular weight

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polyethylene glycol was known to take up moisture from the air and "sweat" at high relative humidity, it was decided that the maximum allowed would be 60% RH. It was also decided to set the minimum to 50% RH to limit the potential for dimensional changes.

To supply these conditions the showcase was constructed with an integral humidifier (Defensor PH5) and a dehumidifier (Munters Ml 20), both controlled by a Sauter HSC hygrostat The humidifier was modified with a large funnel that covered the air outlet, connected by large diameter tubing to a hole in the showcase base. The selection of the dehumidifier was based on a comparison of the operation of the condensation and desiccant equipment. Desiccant equipment which had already been used successfully in the Museum was selected. The dehumidifier was connected to the case following the manufacturer's instructions.

The showcase was monitored using an electronic RH/temperature probe which showed the relative humidity was tightly controlled in the range 53-57%, but the temperature range was 18-30°C. At 55% RH the moisture envelope surrounding the body was 9-18 g/m3, a much wider range than anticipated. However, physically the body has remained in good condition since it was put on display in 1989. The color post-conservation has apparently lightened and because of this in January 2005 an examination of the body was carried out. This showed the body to be in excellent condition, but some extrusion of deterio- rated PEG had occurred. Color monitoring of Lindow Man while on display had indicated that

fading occurred during the exhibition period between 1987 and 1997, when the light levels on the body were up to 400 lux. In 1997 Lindow Man was moved to the Late Bronze Age and Celtic Europe Gallery where it is displayed under a maximum light level of 50 lux. Since then the color change has slowed dramatically.

2.2.2 Ethnographic Objects

The Museum's Ethnography collection is now stored and displayed at a range of 45- 55% RH based on the large number of organic objects. There is no temperature control in the main storage area, but on exhibition, air cooling has been installed to keep the temperature in the galleries below 25°C. Much of the collection is stable but this range of relative humidity promotes the deterioration of some objects.

When the deterioration of Maori objects made of New Zealand flax was investigated, the black dye used to color them, an iron/plant polyphenol complex, was found to be the cause (Daniels 1999). The dye was shown to become acidic causing hydrolysis of the cellulose fibers, and the iron in the dye caused oxidation. The research showed that storing the objects at a lower relative humidity would reduce the rate of hydrolysis. However this might affect the dimensional stability of the objects which have accli- matized to the 45-55% range since 1972. The decision was made to keep black dyed New Zealand flax

objects in the main storage area. An investigation of the mechanism involved in

localized browning of sugar objects from Mexico showed the cause to be Maillard browning, a complex reaction of reducing sugars and protein-containing compounds. The sugar commonly used in cooking and sweetening is sucrose which is not a reducing sugar. However, experiments showed the rate of

hydrolysis of sucrose to the reducing sugars, glucose, and fructose, increased with increase in relative

humidity. The decoration on the objects was made from icing sugar which contains egg white, the source of the protein. As a result of this research, the objects were moved to a specially created low relative humid-

ity, low temperature storage area (Daniels and Lohneis 1997).

2.2.3 Stone Sculpture

Control of both relative humidity and temperature which required full air conditioning, was justified for sculptures from the Great Stupa of Amaravati, India. The sculptures were carved in a green-tinged, partially metamorphosed limestone, commonly known as "Palnad marble," and were deteriorating by powdering and flaking, causing considerable loss of surface detail. Between 1960 and 1992, several

campaigns of scientific investigation were undertaken

(Bradley and Freestone 1992) identifying five potential causes of deterioration. The cleavage planes created by the folia caused the stone to split readily. The clay minerals in the stone were subject to soften-

ing and volume change at high relative humidity, causing surface flaking. Disruption of the surface

through powdering was caused by a combination of

crystallization and dissolution of soluble chloride

along with dissolution and re-precipitation of calcite

by reaction with carbon dioxide and water and surface sulfation. This diagnosis suggested that the

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sculptures should be stored and displayed at a controlled temperature and relative humidity of 18-20°C, 30-40% RH with filtration to remove sulfur dioxide. Under these conditions in storage and on exhibition in the Asahi Shimbun Gallery of Amaravati sculptures, the sculptures have been stable.

(Bradley 2003a).

2.3 RECENT CHANGES IN CONTROL OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN SHOWCASES

The method of control used in showcases has

improved in the last eight years. In new gallery devel-

opments, a new type of control system is being used instead of humidifiers and dehumidifiers. These controllers, developed by Glausbau Hahn Ltd., utilize a Peltier cell which cools air and hence dehumidifies without the use of refrigerants or drying wheels. It is based on a thermo-electrical effect discovered by Jean Peltier in 1834. The system can control to any range of relative humidity by feeding air into the showcase at the required midpoint at a slow rate.

Units of different capacity have been used to control the relative humidity in individual showcases, and from a central unit to groups of showcases in a

gallery. The former approach has been used to control the relative humidity in individual small showcases in several galleries and in very large showcases in the Wellcome Trust Gallery where ethnographic objects are displayed. The latter approach has been used to control the relative humidity in all of the showcases in the North America gallery where ethnographic objects are displayed, and in the gallery where objects from Korea are displayed. Passive methods, such as use of conditioned silica gel (Artsorb or Prosorb), are used to control relative humidity in only three showcases in the Museum because of the difficulty of maintaining the in-case conditions when the temperature in the

gallery is not controlled and the labor-intensive nature of the installations. Currently there are 103 controlled showcases in the Museum galleries.

3. INDOOR POLLUTANT GASES

When Werner (1972) published a short paper on the corrosive effects of materials used in showcases, he could not have imagined that 36 years later, scientists in the Museum would still be conducting research into that issue and that there would be an annual conference on indoor air quality. The development of

a simple test to screen materials used in the storage and display of objects (Oddy 1973) was followed by research into the gases given off by materials (Blackshaw and Daniels 1978), the conditions under which gases are given off, adsorption of gases by objects, and the formation of uncharacterized mixed salts on objects. The role of the external pollutant gases hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide in the tarnishing of silver has also been an important area of research in the Museum.

3.1 ACCELERATED CORROSION TESTING OF MATERIALS

3.1.1 The Oddy Test

Simple corrosion test methodology in which the test material and a metal coupon were heated to 100°C for 3 days was adapted to carry out the first testing of showcase materials. Preliminary studies were conducted to determine the optimum test temperatures using both pure metal and metal alloys. From these tests it was decided that 60°C for 28 days was optimal for testing. At 100°C the test materials degraded beyond recognition, and a lower temperature of 50°C did not cause enough evolution of gases to corrode the test coupons in a reasonable time. Pure silver, copper, and lead coupons were seen to adequately represent the metals of antiquity based on the analytical data available in the Research Laboratory and in the literature at that time.

Initially only the fabrics used inside showcases were tested, but it soon became apparent that a much wider range of materials such as paints, woods, adhesives, sealants, and fittings needed to be tested. Two materials emerged as highly problematic for use in showcase construction, wood and wool. The problem of acetic acid being given off by wood and corroding lead had already been published by Scott during the early years of science in the Museum (Scott 1922), and had been known in antiquity (Rackham 1968). In the tests it emerged that wool fabrics always caused silver to tarnish. This was because the sulfide linkages in the protein chains degraded, giving off reduced sulfur gas. Wool was banned from use, but it was not possible to ban the use of wood as at that time all of the showcases in the Museum, including new showcases, were constructed of wood.

Since its publication in 1973, the Oddy test has undergone modifications (Oddy 1975, Blackshaw

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and Daniels 1979). In 1992 a major review of the methodology was carried out by two of the Museum scientists. They conducted an interlaboratory comparison of the testing and found that there was a great variation in test results obtained (Green and Thickett 1993). As a result of this study, a revised methodology was developed with a step-by-step guide to carrying out the tests (Green and Thickett 1995). A number of spots tests or quick tests were introduced to cope with the many occasions when there was not enough time to carry out the corrosion test (Daniels and Ward 1982; Zang et al. 1994). All of the test methods were brought together in a booklet with an introductory chapter on why testing is necessary (Lee and Thickett 1996; Thickett and Lee 2004).

3.1.2 The 3-in-l Test

Carrying out large numbers of accelerated corrosion tests is time-consuming, and following the publication of a test methodology where one test contained all three metal coupons (Bamberger et al. 1999), a 3-in-l test was developed for use in the British Museum (Robinet and Thickett 2003). The test methodology devised by Bamberger et al. was not used after finding that the method of deploying the coupons by bending them over the edge of a beaker resulted in contact with water condensation, inducing corrosion that would not normally be observed. The method set out by Robinet utilized a reliable supply of disposable silicone stoppers which fitted the quickfit tubes used for the accelerated corrosion test. The coupons were inserted into slits in the stoppers and the rest of the test set up was as before. For a six-month evaluation period the 3-in- 1 test and the normal test were run on every material which came in for testing. Currently the 3-in-l test method is used for the routine testing of materials for use in storage or display of the collection. More complex methods for evaluating materials have been suggested and one has been published (Reedy et al. 1998). This method requires equipment, expert- ise, and time that are not available in most museum science laboratories.

The Oddy test and 3-in-l test are pass/fail tests which can be carried out by a scientist or conservator who is trained in the test procedure and has a good understanding of laboratory practice. These tests provide a simple way of ensuring that the risk to objects from indoor pollutant gases given off by materials used in storage and display is minimized.

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3.2 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND ALDEHYDES

Indoor pollutant gases are those which are given off by the materials used inside a building. The gases of concern in conservation are those which react on

object surfaces to form corrosion. The lower

carboxylic acids, up to C4, were identified in emissions from a range of hardwoods, softwoods, and wood products by gas chromatography (GC) head-

space analysis and shown to cause corrosion of lead (Blackshaw and Daniels 1978). In practice the main

gases of concern are acetic and formic acid, possibly formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, and the reduced sulfur gases, hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide.

3.2.1 Acetic and Formic Acids

For manufactured wood products, the most

important indoor pollutant is formaldehyde. When

composite wood products such as particle boards and Medium Density Fiber board (MDF) were developed, they were quickly taken up by the furniture industry because of their low cost and easy working properties. However, these products give off large quantities of formaldehyde derived from the adhesives used in their manufacture. Formaldehyde was found to affect the health of people and was eventually identified as a carcinogen. Because of this, a passive test for measurement of formaldehyde was developed and was used in several museums including the British Museum; at the time there was no easy quantitative test for acetic and formic acid.

Use of the formaldehyde test put undue emphasis on formaldehyde as a main source of corrosion of metals, although laboratory tests in the Museum showed that at concentrations of 0.5 and 5 ppm it did not corrode lead or copper test pieces at 50% RH and temperatures of 15, 25, and 35°C. Slight corrosion of lead test coupons occurred using the same

experimental set-up at 100% RH.This suggested that at higher relative humidity, conversion of formalde-

hyde to formic acid occurs (Thickett et al. 1998). Other researchers suggested that formaldehyde was a more serious problem (Hatchfield and Carpenter 1987). Researchers at the University of East Anglia showed that formaldehyde could be oxidized to formic acid at ambient temperature. However the

experimental levels of oxidant were high compared to what normally would be expected in the air

(Raychaudhuri and Brimblecombe 2000). Another



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mechanism suggested is that of the high- temperature Cannizaro reaction (Schmidt 1992), but this seems

unlikely to occur at ambient temperature. The wood industry changed formulations and

low- or zero-formaldehyde MDF emerged. These products still gave off copious acetic and formic acid and failed the accelerated corrosion test. For more than thirty years in which the accelerated corrosion test has been in use, most of the woods and wood

products tested have corroded the lead test coupon. Even ancient wood can corrode lead. An eighth- century BC lead figurine (1880-12-16-46) formed from tiny lead and ivory squares had a wood core which was found to be the source of the regular corrosion of the lead (Duncan 1986a).

In the British Museum the corrosion product identified most frequently on lead objects by X-ray diffrac- tion (XRD) is hydrocerrusite, PbCO3.Pb(OH)2. The corrosion of lead to basic lead carbonate has been described as a two-stage process via an intermediate, lead acetate, which reacts with water and carbon dioxide in the air to form basic lead carbonate. In the last few years, more findings have been made of acetate- and formate-containing corrosion products on lead and other metals, and of mixed salts on porous stone, ceramics, and glass. These occur where composite wood products or untested paints are in use. Recent improvements in analysis by ion chromatography (IC) in the Museum have identified the presence of carbonates in salt mixtures which would previously have been identified

only as formate and/or acetate. Measurement of the acetic and formic acid levels using the diffusion tube method described by Gibson et al. (1997a) have shown acetic acid to always be present at a higher concentration than formic acid. The prevalence of formate-

containing corrosion and salts suggests that either formic acid is more reactive than acetic acid at some

object surfaces, or oxidation of formaldehyde to formic acid is occurring.

3.2.2 Conditions for the Formation of Mixed Salts

From a number of incidents of rapid formation of mixed corrosion products and mixed salts on objects, it was suspected that although acetic and formic acid

may have adsorbed onto the surface of some objects, the formation of corrosion and efflorescence was

dependent on high temperature and high relative

humidity, either promoting out-gassing from wood, or promoting the reaction of the adsorbed gases on

object surfaces. The formation of acetate- and formate-containing corrosion and salts has been investigated on a range of materials including Egyptian copper alloys, limestone, marble, glass, and enamels. On Egyptian bronzes a previously uncharacterized compound, sodium copper carbonate ethanoate (acetate) was identified and characterized (Bradley and Thickett 1999; Thickett and Odhlya 2000).

On an Egyptian limestone stela (EA1332) a salt efflorescence containing methanoate (formate), nitrate, and chloride in the ratio 3:2:1 was identified. This is likely to be the corrosion product characterized by Gibson et al. (1997b). During conservation the stela had been poulticed to remove salts and was returned to its oak storage box before fully drying. It is likely that the moisture promoted a reaction between acetic acid from the wood and the soluble salts in the stone forming the mixed salt. The soluble salt profiles through the thickness of this stela and one which *had not been treated with water and did not have salt efflorescence present were compared. In addition to the expected chloride and nitrate, acetate and formate ions were present in amounts of 0.01-0.06% w/w throughout both stele (Bradley and Thickett 1999). This shows that gases given off by the oak storage boxes had been adsorbed not only on the surface of the porous limestone but throughout its structure. A white efflorescence had formed on the surface of marble relief (MLA OA 10562) following leakage from a water pipe. This was identified as a calcium acetate formate hydrate (Thickett 1995), a mixed salt which had previously been identified on shells (Tennent and Baird 1985). The relief was mounted in a glass-fronted wood box that was a source of acetic and formic acid.

Acetates and formates have been found on the surface of glass and enamels. Many gases readily adsorb onto the surface of glass, and it is highly likely that acetic and formic acids were taken up during long periods of storage in wood cupboards or display in wood showcases.

Like many objects around the world, those in the British Museum have traditionally been stored in wood cupboards, resulting in long-term exposure to emissions of acids and aldehydes, which have been adsorbed onto the surface or even throughout the structure of many of the objects. This appears to be a substantial problem, but there are not that many instances of corrosion or salts on objects containing acetate or formate. On investigation, incidents of

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formation of corrosion or salts containing acetates and formates have involved the presence of water, applied during conservation, leaking onto the object, or in high relative humidity.

From the analysis of acetic and formic acid levels in showcases and store cupboards, an empirical rela-

tionship between high humidity and temperature and the rate of out-gassing from materials has emerged (Bradley 2003b). In the non-air-conditioned galleries of the Museum there is a seasonal variation in levels of acetic and formic acid and aldehydes, with winter levels considerably lower than summer levels. Since wood is still in use in showcases, albeit wrapped in a barrier film to reduce out-gassing (Thickett 1998), acids and aldehydes are present. However an examination of at-risk objects on display showed that they were not being affected by the gases and lead

coupons in showcases did not corrode (Bradley and Thickett 1999). Even very high levels of acetic acid in

cupboards used for the storage of Egyptian copper alloy objects did not corrode lead coupons. The relative humidity was at or below 45%. In general, the

presence of moisture is needed for mixed corrosion

products or mixed salts to form on objects; when conditions are favorable, formation is rapid. Further work is needed to establish if these types of reactions can be eliminated by keeping objects at a low relative

humidity.

4. REDUCED SULFUR GASES

The reduced sulfur gases hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and

carbonyl sulfide (COS) are important because they form silver sulfide on the surface of silver objects causing them to tarnish, form black sulfides on

copper alloy objects, and react with lead pigments causing blackening. There is no need for any material which emits these gases to be used in the storage or

display of collections since they can be easily identified during the accelerated corrosion test. However even though only materials which do not tarnish silver are used in the Museum, reduced sulfur gases are present in the external air at concentrations of

parts per trillion and are present in the unfiltered air in the Museum. Very low concentrations of these

gases can cause silver to tarnish. In the British Museum research into these gases has focused on the

tarnishing of silver since this has such an impact on conservation effort and time, with many objects requiring regular cleaning. Silver used to be lacquered to reduce the rate of tarnishing, but removing lacquer

JAIC 44 (2005): 159-1 73

was difficult and residues have recently been shown to promote tarnishing (Thickett and Hockey 2003). Another approach was to use silver cleaners which included tarnish inhibitors, usually mercaptan based

(Wilthew 1981, 1987).

4.1 TESTING TARNISH PREVENTION PREPARATIONS

Between 1975 and 1987 different types of

tarnish-prevention preparation were tested for use in the Museum. The preparations included vapor-phase inhibitors, protective papers and cloth for wrapping or enclosing silver, and absorbent materials. The test-

ing took the form of exposing a cleaned silver

coupon and the material under test in a closed container with a source of hydrogen sulfide. Other researchers used either artificially high levels of

hydrogen sulfide or carbonyl sulfide (Franey et al.

1985). The effectiveness of the preparations was determined by the number of days taken for tarnish to be visible on the silver coupons. In these tests all of the preparations retarded the formation of tarnish when compared with the time taken for the control

coupons to tarnish. However the most effective

preparations were 3M silver protector strip, Tarnprufe cloth, four ICI catalysts, of which 75-1 was most effective and Charcoal Cloth (Bradley 1983; 1985; 1989; Duncan 1986b; 1987). As 3M protector strip was designed to be used in smaller closed storage boxes and Tarnprufe cloth, which contained zinc acetate as a sulfide scavenger, was designed to enclose silver, neither was suitable for use in the display of silver objects. ICI catalyst 75-1, a highly porous zinc oxide (wurzite) bonded with cement, designed to remove hydrogen sulfide from North Sea gas, and Charcoal Cloth were the most promising preparations for use in showcases to reduce or remove reduced sulfur gases.

In 1993 a more rigorous investigation of silver

tarnishing to quantify the efficiency of the tarnish inhibitors and identify the nature of silver tarnish in the Museum began (Lee 1996). The high hydrogen sulfide concentrations used in previous experiments formed a tarnish layer on silver was very much easier to remove than that formed naturally in the Museum

galleries and in the laboratory air. As a result it was decided to use concentrations of reduced sulfur gases as near to ambient levels as possible. There was a

precedent for conducting corrosion experiments with silver at naturally occurring levels of hydrogen



167


Table 1. Laboratory Evaluation of Tarnish Inhibitors.

Results of XPS Analysis of Silver Coupons Expressed as Atomic Weight Percent. Elements Present (Atomic %)

SAMPLE S2p

Ag3d Cls Ols Nals Cl2p ITS*- as SO42~ Clean, 46.5

31.9 ai o 16.2 , o , 1.20 OA (2.40) ' . AA ,

i A la, 31.9 ai o 16.2 , o 1.20 , OA

; ' .

1.00 AA nd , unexposed

i Ag(0) A la, 1.20*

Control in lab ^7'4

36.0 18.4 1.20 ^'^}

2.40 5.40

40 4 Control in

^ ^ ^ 22Q (3 90) container A&;.; 1.70*

Puraspec 5040 ^

38.9 15.4 nd 2.40 1.60 1.10

Puraspec2040 2^"j 60.5 12.1 nd 1.50 1.30 tr

Charcoal Cloth 2®m®

61.3 16.3 nd 1.20 1.10 nd Ag(0)

nd = not detected when the Shirley baseline was applied tr = trace levels detected, below the level at which the amount can be quantified * values corrected for NaCl through handling residues

sulfide (Pope et al. 1968). Laboratory air was selected as the most readily available source of low level concentrations of reduced sulfur gases and had the

advantage of providing a natural mix of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide for the experiments.

A small aquarium pump was used to pump air

through a series of 2L capacity containers. Two holes were drilled into the screw tops of the containers, one for the inlet tubing and one for the air outlet. The containers were connected by rigid Teflon tubing and

polythene T-connectors. The arrangement ensured that the pathway to each of the containers was exactly the same length, volume and had the same number of

joins and that each container received an equal air flow. Eleven materials were evaluated in this experiment but only the results on the two most effective ICI catalysts, now named Puraspec 5040 and 2040, and on Charcoal Cloth are reported here (Table 1).

The materials were placed in individual containers with the cloth cut to cover the base and the

Puraspec pellets added to form a monolayer. Analar silver coupons were cleaned by abrasion and degreased in high purity acetone before being pierced and

weighed. One coupon was then suspended from the screw top of each container, all at the same height. Controls were set up with a silver coupon suspended in a container alone and one suspended in the area of

the apparatus in the laboratory. The experiment was started in July 1994 and

completed in April 1995. When the experiment was

stopped the control in the laboratory was a dark

yellow brown color and that in the container was

distinctly yellowed. The silver coupons exposed with the Charcoal Cloth and Puraspec 5040 and 2040 showed no visible change, but at 60x magnification, black spots could be seen.

4.1.1 Analysis of Silver Test Coupons

Prior to analysis the coupons were individually stored in bags made from a film with low permeabil- ity to gases along with sachets of Ageless oxygen scav-

enger to prevent further change. The coupons were

analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with a Kratos XSAM series 800 using Mg and Al Ka radiation at 300 W using 7.5mm slits and 80/40 eV

pass energies. The results in Table 1 (Johnson Matthey Technology Centre 1995) show that the silver tarnish contained oxides, chlorides, and sulfates in addition to the expected sulfide. On the control coupons, sulfide was present at lower concentrations than oxide and sulfate. Despite efforts to minimize handling of the

samples the presence of sodium suggested handling contamination on some of the coupons and an

JAIC 44 (2005):159-173



168

SUSAN BRADLEY

adjustment was made to the chloride measurements to reflect this. High levels of carbon were present on all of the coupons, particularly those from the Puraspec 2040 and Charcoal Cloth containers. These coupons were kept in the protective bags for six months before they were analyzed and this was most likely the source of the contamination. In this experiment, where the materials were used in a passive mode, Charcoal Cloth performed as effectively as the Puraspec 2040 and 5040 in reducing the rate at which silver tarnished.

4.2 REDUCED SULFUR GAS MONITORING

As part of a broader pollutant gas monitoring campaign in the Museum, hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide levels were monitored using diffusion tubes supplied by S. Watts of Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. The tubes and silver coupons were deployed in Gallery 70, Rome City and Empire, in the gallery, in two showcases containing silver objects, in a control case containing only glass, and outside of the Museum building for 28 days. The showcases were different sizes but were constructed to the same specification, and the case inserts, dress-

ing fabrics and label materials had been tested to ensure that they did not out-gas reduced sulfide gases. The analysis of reduced sulfur gases was interesting, as carbonyl sulfide was present in greater concentration than hydrogen sulfide at all of the locations monitored. The levels inside showcases were almost as high as the levels in the gallery and externally (Table 2). Only the coupon exposed externally was visibly tarnished, particularly at the edges. Taking the meas-

Table 2. Carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations measured between

31 January and 23 February 2001

T . Hydrogen ' * Carbonyl T Location . ' * . .., / . sulfide (ppt)

. sulfide ..,

(ppt) .

External 232 ± 37 596 ± 98

Gallery 70 248 ± 50 622 ± 46

Gallery 70, case 30 122 ± 24 523 ± 89 Silver objects

Gallery 70, case 17 164 ± 27 497 ± 62 Glass objects

ppt = parts per trillion

JAIC 44 (2005): 159-1 73

urement errors into account, this location had the

highest hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide levels. These coupons were analyzed by XPS and Static

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SSIMS). The SSIMS analysis was carried out using a Millbrook Chemical Microscope in large area (2.25 mm2), static mode for both negative and positive ions. The

primary beam is provided by a raster scanned gallium liquid metal ion gun with low energy optics for

secondary ion extraction into a 300 Da quadropole mass spectrometer. Although both methods are surface analysis techniques the information they provided is different. In XPS the elements present are

separated according to their binding energy (eV) and hence sulfur as sulfide and as sulfate are discrimi- nated. The analysis is quantified as atomic concentration percent. SSIMS is a non-quantitative technique and the output is a mass spectrum detecting fragments as well as ions. Sodium, chlorine, oxygen, zinc, sulfur as sulfide and as sulfate, silicon, and carbon were detected on the surface of the silver coupons.

4.3 THE NATURE OF SILVER TARNISH

In this program of monitoring, the nature of silver tarnish in the British Museum was confirmed as a mixture of oxide, chloride, sulfate, and sulfide. Carbon was again a major contaminant on the surface of the coupons with fragments of up to C6 in chain

length present as determined by SSIMS. In this work, handling of the coupons was dramatically reduced by mounting them on aluminum stubs for presentation in the SSIMS equipment and storage in aluminum containers prior to exposure and analysis. Hence carbon species in the atmosphere were indicated as the primary source of this contamination (Hallett et al. 2003). Carbonyl sulfide was shown to be the

predominant reduced sulfur gas in the air and not

hydrogen sulfide; hence, the strategy of basing a tarnish prevention system on a material designed to remove hydrogen sulfide was flawed.

4.4 GALLERY TRIALS

Meanwhile the evaluation of the passive deployment of Puraspec 5040 was continued in gallery trials. The pellets were deployed inside a large re-

shaped showcase displaying silver objects and were visible. Silver coupons were put into this case and



169


Table 3. Gallery trial of passive deployment of Puraspec 5040. XPS analysis of silver coupons expressed as ratios of element to silver

Ratio atomic % element/ atomic % silver

Location S2p

C,s O3s Nals Clap as S2~ as SO42~ Clean 0.84 053 0.019 0.048 nd nd

unexposed

Gallery 70 2.4 0.99 0.059 0.25 0.16 0.059

Showcase, 1.4 0.64 0.029 0.10 0.023 0.023 silver no

Puraspec

Showcase, 1.4 0.55 0.022 0.11 0.034 0.015 silver +

Puraspec

Showcase, glass 1.4 0.53 0.028 0.092 0.057 0.028 no Puraspec

nd = not detected when the Shirley baseline was applied

into a rectangular case with silver objects and no

Puraspec. Silver coupons were also deployed in two control locations, the gallery, and a showcase contain-

ing glass objects alone which would not have been a sink for reduced sulfur gases.

The coupons in the control locations tarnished after 42 days. All of the coupons were then analyzed by XPS. The results are presented in Table 3 as ratio atomic percent. There was more sulfur present on the silver coupon exposed in the showcase containing glass objects than that containing silver objects and no

Puraspec. Hence the trial showed that silver objects are likely to tarnish at a slower rate in showcases

containing other silver objects. This is presumably because the silver objects act as a sink for reduced sulfur and other gases. The Puraspec 5040 in passive mode did not reduce the rate of tarnishing. The results of this experiment were later found to have been affected by the high air exchange rate of the

complex L-shaped showcase, more than 8 air changes per day.

A trial of a positive pressure system was undertaken replacing Puraspec 5040 with Puraspec 2030 which was suggested by ICI Katalco. This product is also formed from zinc oxide and contains aluminum oxide which oxidizes carbonyl sulfide to hydrogen sulfide which is in turn absorbed by the zinc oxide, and a copper compound which acts as an indicator,

turning from green to black when it takes up sulfides. A simple filter bed was prepared in a tubular container using Puraspec 2030 and activated carbon cloth. It was decided to incorporate the cloth since it

absorbs a broad range of pollutant gases and pumping air into a case could lead to a build up of pollutants at the surface of the objects. The filter bed was connected through the base of a showcase displaying only silver by plastic tubing and a small pump. Silver

coupons were deployed to monitor the rate of tarnish formation and these were visually tarnished after 60

days. Again they were analyzed by XPS which showed that the pump had been effective at reducing sulfide formation (Table 4).

On the basis of this research, current thought is to use positive pressure systems in all showcases where silver objects are displayed.

5. CONCLUSIONS

Greater understanding of the interaction of the museum environment with the collection has been achieved through research by the scientists in the British Museum. Increase in knowledge has been

incremental, with improvements in scientific technol-

ogy providing the capability to extend the work into levels of detail unimaginable in 1970. So that actual

object needs are met in a cost-effective way, Museum scientists conducted object-based research designed to inform the preventive conservation strategy (Bradley 1996), rather than advocating wholesale

implementation of conditions taken from the literature. Full air-conditioning of the building is not

appropriate given the historical significance of the

building itself, the range of materials and their levels of deterioration; and the mixed object displays which

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SUSAN BRADLEY

Table 4. Gallery trial of pump system to deploy of Puraspec 2030. XPS analysis of silver coupons expressed as ratios of element to silver

Ratio atomic % element/ atomic % silver

Location S2p

Cls Ols Nals Cl2p asS2" as SO42~

Clean, 077 O29 nd 0.020 tr nd

unexposed

Showcase, 0.77 0.32 nd 0.029 0.0090 0.017 Silver + pump

Showcase, 1.1 0.32 nd 0.033 0.018 0.028 silver no pump

Gallery 70 1.8 0.86 nd 0.20 0.32 0.057

nd = not detected when the Shirley baseline was applied

are used to interpret the collection in themed

galleries. However, when large numbers of objects are identified as needing environmental control, a global gallery or storage area approach is justified.

The research has been utilized both in the British Museum and in the wider museum community informing showcase and storage unit design. It has

prompted manufacturers to move away from wood to metal storage units, and glass and metal showcases, and to develop in-case conditioning systems which are superior to those based on humidifiers and dehumidifiers which we used for 25 years. Design of new

galleries and storage facilities incorporates conservation requirements such as air cooling and filtration which are justified by the research. Most importantly, in new galleries and new storage areas, the objects are

displayed and stored in safe conditions that are a vast

improvement over those which existed in 1970 when this research was begun.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank all the members of the Conservation Science team who have worked over the years to develop our understanding of deterioration and the Museum environment. In particular Lorna Lee (nee Green) and David Thickett have made a substantial contribution to this research. I would like to acknowledge the help of the conser-

vators, curators, museum assistants, designers, particularly Geoff Pickup and buildings staff who point out incidents of objects changing, help with measurements in galleries and stores, and implement solutions. I would also like to thank Sheridan Bowman for reading the manuscript and suggesting improvements.

JAIC 44 (2005): 159-1 73

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SUSAN BRADLEY, Head of Conservation Science and Analytical Chemistry in The British Museum

Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science, has a degree in chemistry from the University of London. In 1972 she joined the Museum to work on conservation problems, researching conservation methods for waterlogged wood and leather, the deterioration and conservation of stone, metals, ceramics, and glass, the storage of collections, and the museum environment. In 1988 she became Head of Conservation Research Group, leading a small team of scientists on object-centred research. Currently her main interests are the deterioration of glass and enamel and the museum environment. Address: Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science, The British Museum, Great Russell St., London WC1B 3DG, UK

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Documents

Preventive Conservation Research and Practice at the British Museum