WP2 – SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND CONSERVATION TREATMENTS

This WP covers the selection of materials to be investigated and the preparation and artificial ageing of reference models, and the identification of case studies. The choice will be guided by actual and common plastic conservation issues, steered by the experience of ABAQ and in connection with the pilot studies included in WP6. 

Ageing tests with photo and thermohydrometric ageing will be performed to simulate specific degradation phenomena and aged reference materials will be used to test specific conservation interventions. All the operative phases of the conservation treatments will be experimentally tested, starting from the solubility tests. The restoration materials will be properly selected trying to fulfil the principle of reversibility of the intervention. Ageing tests before and after treatments will allow evaluation of the short- and long-term stability of the intervention.