Materials Working Group

Introduction

The Materials Selection and Specification Working Group (MWG), formed in 2018, is a community of collection care, conservation, natural and applied science, as well as allied professionals united in developing guidelines and best practices for selecting, evaluating, and disseminating materials used in collection care. To learn more about our current projects and understand how the group works, watch the presentation from AIC's 2021 Annual Meeting.

MWG 2021 Annual Meeting Session

MWG's content covering materials for collection use, material interactions and material testing data and results is found throughout this wiki site. For easy access to this content visit the Choosing Materials for Storage, Exhibition & Transport page.

Goals & Objectives

The MWG's goals are to:

1. Create a working group of allied professionals representing relevant fields, materials, and institutional types
2. Develop a proposal for an approach that will support end users in the selection of materials for long-term collection care.
3. Develop a proposal for a resource ‘bank’ that will support and be of interest to the broad spectrum of constituents the MWG intends to serve.
4. Identify potential partners with related initiatives within organizations and institutions to support shared goals.

This will be accomplished by:

1. Working collaboratively to address the complex nature of materials selection in the field of cultural heritage preservation;
2. Identifying and developing best practices in materials selection to advance preventive care in institutions of all types and sizes, locally, nationally, and globally;
3. Providing resources relevant to a wide user base to support collection care initiatives involving materials selection;
4. Working with related professional groups to further complementary goals in materials selection.

History

2015 Conference lectures on YouTube

The first meeting of the MWG was held on February 8-9, 2018, sponsored by the Smithsonian’s National Collections Program, Museum Conservation Institute and National Museum of Natural History. Subsequent meetings include:

• November 1-2, 2018, hosted by the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
• November 7-8, 2019, hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY. (Read the AIC News summary of the 2019 meeting) and the associated MET International Symposium on the Testing of Materials for Storage and Display of Cultural Heritage
• November 12-13, 2020, virtual meeting
• November 9-10, 2021, virtual meeting
• November 2-3, 2022, virtual meeting
• November 1-2, 2023, virtual meeting
• November 21-22 2024, hosted by the Museum of Modern Art, NY

This group developed out of discussions at the 2017 annual meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) which focused on effectively making resources available to describe and recommend best practices in choosing materials for storage, transport, and display that suit the required demand and are long-lasting and non-damaging. As discussions proceeded over the next few months, it was quickly realized that many related, parallel efforts were actively pursuing similar goals. Some examples include:

• Conservation and Exhibition Planning: Material Testing for Design, Display, and Packing, sponsored by The Lunder Conservation Center and the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, 19-20 November, 2015
• The Museum, Archives and Library Materials Working Group held at the Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, 7 March 2016
• The Technical Committee for Materials – Association for Preservation Technology International annual meeting, Ottawa, 13 October, 2017

The MWG proposal for an exploratory group under AIC's Collection Care Network was approved by the AIC Board in May 2018 with a two-year exploratory charge. The MWG will underscore the directive in the AIC's Guidelines for Practice to "recognize the critical importance of preventive conservation as the most effective means of promoting the long-term preservation of cultural property" and further the museum professional’s ability to “select methods and materials that, to the best of current knowledge, do not adversely affect cultural property or its future examination, scientific investigation, treatment, or function”.

Structure

At the 2018 inaugural meeting three sub-groups were set up to direct initial activities:

1. Selection & Specifications
2. Testing & Standards
3. Resources & Dissemination

Each subgroup developed a mission statement as well as Short (1-2 years), Medium (3-5 years) and Long-Term (5+years) Goals listed below. The MWG is led by a volunteer Steering Committee chaired by Rebecca Kaczkowski, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution. The point person for each subgroup is listed in Italics below.

Selection & Specifications

Mission

Develop an approach (decision-making process) to help end-users in the selection of appropriate materials for use with collections.

Current Projects

The S&S sub-group has further divided to focus on two projects:

1. Best Practices for Exhibition Guidelines
The working group determined that there are two existing resources that help end-users evaluate materials and make decisions on use. Both require updates and expansion:

• Exhibit Conservation Guidelines (1999, NPS CD-ROM)
• Conservation Standards & Guidelines for Exhibitions Utilizing Museum Collections (2005 FAIC Kress fellowship project - unpublished)

Participants from the MWG are working collaboratively with National Park Service staff to:

• Merge the two texts and adapt them for optimal functionality by integrated them within AIC's wiki platform.
• Update and expand the content, including both general concepts and detailed materials information which will dovetail with the MWG Fact Sheets.

2. Materials Fact Sheets
MWG's Materials Fact Sheets are quick reference sheets with material information relevant to all stakeholders involved in exhibit and storage planning: designers, fabricators, conservators, preparators, scientists, collection managers and more. The Fact Sheets bring together information that is currently scattered among a variety of online resources linking the AIC wiki, Conservation and Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO), and Preparation, Art Handling and Collection Care Network (PACCIN) sites to allow users to more easily research materials for use in storage, exhibition and transport.
Fact Sheets are intended to:

• Promote discussion and understanding between colleagues
• Provide practical information for design and construction
• Highlight preservation issues and provide links to more data

Tech Notes edited in 2022

• Adhesives for Use Inside Exhibit Cases
• Barriers and Sealants for Wood Products
• Caulk Sealants to Seal Exhibit Cases
• Decorative Fabrics Inside Exhibit Cases
• Interior Paints for Exhibit Cases
• Gaskets: Sealing Exhibit Cases
• Nonwood panels Used in Exhibit Case Construction

Future Goals

• Develop Case Studies that illustrate the process and interaction of the various stages between materials selection and specification.
• Determine and implement best method for obtaining community feedback (develop a listserv, product rating mechanism, etc.).
• Highlight potential research projects.
• Identify and present upcoming trends that impact material selection (sustainability, technology, etc.).
• Educate by identifying topics that the community should understand better when considering specifications (i.e. what to test, when to spec., etc.).

Leadership and Participants

Exhibition Guidelines Leadership

Carolyn Leckie, Conservator, Canadian Museum of Nature

Luci Cipera, Conservator, Canadian Museum of Nature

Theresa Voellinger, Conservator, National Park Service

Lisa Goldberg, Goldberg Preservation Services, LLC

Materials Fact Sheets Leadership

Jennifer Bosworth, Exhibitions Conservator, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian

Jamie Gleason, Exhibits Conservator, National Gallery of Art

Michele Derrick, Scientist Emeritus, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Antje Neumann, Supervisory Conservator, National Museum for African American History and Culture

Participants

2019 Participants

2018 Participants

Testing & Standards

Mission

• Identify and refine methods to evaluate materials for use near cultural heritage.
• Develop ways to interpret results and communicate findings so that end-users within the collections care community can implement the results.

Projects (beginning 2019)

1. Round-Robin Testing to Determine Test Repeatability - This work is designed to assess the repeatability of microchemical, Oddy, or volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Work is implemented by testing the same materials at different institutions and using the agreed upon protocols. The first set of round robin testing was completed in 2019. The second round of testing was delayed by Covid-19 in 2020. Round Robin test protocols have included:

• Microchemical tests - analyses include pH pen test (detects pH in paper products), surface pH measurement, alkaline reserve test (the Library of Congress-modified TAPPI method T-553), Beilstein test (flame test to detect presence of chlorine), and the lead acetate paper test (to detect the presence of sulfur) were all explored for use.
• Oddy tests - British Museum, IMA/Wintherthur, and Metropolitan Museum protocols
• GCMS - solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and direct thermal desorption (DTD) were used. In 2019, data collected from different institutions was compared using a traditional approach, by examining individual chromatographic peak mass spectra. A future goal is to construct a single weighted-composite mass spectrum from an entire chromatographic run.

2. Update Materials Testing and instrumental analysis pages on the Wiki - The AIC’s Wiki pages concerning materials testing, testing protocols and results, and instrumental analysis methods are being updated together with the other MWG subcommittees to provide a wide range of museum professionals with an overview of materials testing, protocol and instrumental details, sample types, applications, and budgetary considerations for nearly all analytical tools used in conservation and conservation science. Case studies will also included.

Short Term Goals

• Identify core group of tests and materials (focus on methodology and protocol rather than results, conduct round-robin testing)
• Update analytic tool information sheets for posting on the MWG wiki
• Determine partnerships - Partner with European and UK groups, professional organizations (e.g. IAQ meetings, ASTM committees, ISO committees)
• Write case studies – select a few (three to four) materials that are commonly used yet problematic (i.e. give conflicting results – such as polyethylene foam, expanded PVC). Determine how best to discuss and present materials, tests, and results
• Develop standardized protocols for tests
• Coordinate research between labs
• Evaluate low tech vs. high tech methods (increased confidence with increased test levels) and present results

Medium Term Goals

• Continue work on case studies and protocols
• Work with Resources & Dissemination group on how best to present data, information, and interpretation on AIC wiki (or other online platform)
• Determine how best to test interactions between materials

Long Term Goals

• Broaden outreach – develop an international consortium that will expand beyond the existing group
• Work to create a practical guide for end users

Committee Leadership and Participants

Volatiles Analysis

Eric Breitung, Research Scientist, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chris Maines, Conservation Scientist, National Gallery of Art

Microchemical Testing

Catharine Hawks, Museum Conservator, National Museum of Natural History

Susan Heald, Textile Conservator, National Museum of the American Indian

Oddy Testing

Julia Sybalsky, Objects Conservation, American Museum of Natural History

Elena Torok, Associate Conservator, Dallas Museum of Art

Participants

2019 participants

2018 participants

Resources & Dissemination

Mission

Gather, package, and disseminate data, information, and best practices to aid in choosing materials for storage, exhibition, and transport for the benefit of collecting institutions and cultural heritage communities.

Current Projects

Members of the R&D subgroup develop resources while also working in coordination with the other two subgroups on projects to facilitate sharing their information online. The short term goals of the R&D group have focused on:

1. Surveying the field

A survey assessing the desired needs and tools of those choosing materials for use with collections was completed in 2018. This work provides a framework to guide development of MWG activities. The survey results were visualized in Tableau for analysis.

2. Developing an initial online presence for MWG content

Three initiatives have been launched on the AIC wiki:

• The Choosing Materials for Storage, Exhibition & Transport page introduces essential concepts that underpin the work of the MWG
• The Image Gallery of Damages presents images as a visual learning to to demonstrate the damage caused by the use of inappropriate or incompatible materials for the storage, exhibition, and transport of cultural heritage artifacts.
• Content from the National Park Service's 1999 Exhibit Conservation Guidelines was mounted online and is being linked to other MWG content.
  

3. Gathering citations and references

An online annotated bibliography is available through Zotero to facilitate research and future reading. New abstracts written by MWG members will be shared with AATA to enhance access to the literature.

Future Goals

While current work is presented on AIC's wiki the R&D group is examining whether a new online resource will be needed to meet the expansive goals of the group. Future goals include:

• Outline a proposed site/resource profile and information architecture for a future online portal/tool
• Develop an estimation of costs, potential funders, income streams and appropriate grant opportunities for funding a new online platform
• Coordinate additional content production as needed
• Create a plan for continued development and sustainability

Committee Leadership and Participants

Leadership

Rachael Arenstein, Conservator, A.M. Art Conservation, LLC & e-Editor, American Institute for Conservation

Lisa Elkin, Chief Registrar and Director of Conservation, American Museum of Natural History

Lisa Goldberg, Conservator, Goldberg Preservation Services, LLC & Editor, AIC News

Samantha Springer, Conservator, Art Solutions Lab, LLC

Participants

2019 Participants

2018 Participants

Future Work

Participants in the MWG Subgroups are continuing their work via virtual meetings, throughout the year. The group plans to continue to meet annually with the next (virtual) meeting scheduled to take place November 12-13, 2020. For more information on the group, how to get involved, or to spread the word on the group's activities, please download the group's flyer.

Sponsorship

The Material Working Group is grateful for the support of AIC and AIC's Preventive Care Network (PCN). The in-person meetings of 2019 and 2024 would not have been possible without the generosity of our hosts and sponsors.

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Related Resources

The best place to start for an overview of the issue is the Choosing Materials for Storage, Exhibition & Transport page. Quick links to other key resources are listed below:

Additionally, the MWG Resources and Dissemination subgroup has created an annotated bibliography on the Zotero platform to collect resources focused on choosing materials for storage, exhibition, and transport, for the benefit of collecting institutions and cultural heritage communities. The library can be found here, and any questions or comments can be addressed to the Zotero administrators via email.

AIC Resources

• Materials Testing and Materials Testing Results Tables on the AIC wiki
• Image Gallery of Damage from Improper/Unsuitable Materials
• Mountmaking on the AIC wiki courtesy of the Mountmakers Forum
• Exhibition Standards & Guidelines
• Storage Techniques for Art, Science and History Collections (STASHc) Materials, Tools & Supplies page

Institutional Resources

• Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO) by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
• Preservation Self-Assessment Program (PSAP) by the University of Illinois
• Preparation, Art handling, Collections Care Information Network (PACCIN)
• Image Permanence Institute
• OSCAR: Online Sustainable Conservation Assistance Resource by the Association for Preservation Technology (APT)
• Prēserv'Art by Centre de Conservation Québec
• Users Group for Mass spectrometry and chromatography (MaSC)

Standards & Specifications Organizations

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ASTM Standards