Video Talk - Slides
BIOGRAPHY
Dario Camuffo is a physicist specialised in Atmospheric Physics, Climate and Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Until 2008, he was Research Director at the CNR - Padua Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, where he is now Senior Associate after his retirement. He has carried out scientific research activities applied to cultural heritage and climate change. He is active in the European standardization on cultural heritage: he has been a member of the NORMAL commission, head of the Italian delegation (UNI) at the European Committee for the Standardization (CEN) - Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage (TC346) and chairman of the Working Groups WG 6 "Exhibition lighting”; at present is chairman of WG7 “indoor/outdoor climate specifications” and coordinator of the WG Environment at UNI. He has been member of various national and international research projects and commissions (including the European Commission of UNESCO) for the environment and cultural heritage. He was lecturer of Atmospheric Physics for Conservation at the University of Padua and is lecturer of Environmental Physics at the Polytechnic of Milan.
ABSTRACT
Climate effects on museum collections
An overview is made of the key climate factors that govern the main deterioration mechanism or generate risk for conservation. Once defined the variables and their meaning, the problem is the synergism between the individual factors, and the conflict between different needs. The last two parts of the presentation concern the showcases, especially the historical showcases, and their use. Finally, the future scenarios will be presented, showing how climate change will likely affect museum collections. The considered topics include:
• Role of temperature: thermal expansion temperature cycles; glass-rubber transitions; air movements and surface soiling; chemical kinetics; biodeterioration; contributing to determine relative humidity (RH); people thermal comfort.
• Consequences of the Boltzmann energy distribution: Maxwell-Boltzmann equation and the distribution of molecules by velocities thermal emission of bodies; Arrhenius equation; saturation pressure of water vapour; behaviour of water in the solid, liquid and gaseous phases.
• Role of moisture: moisture in air; viscous layer around objects; equilibrium moisture content; condensation in micropores; absorption into materials and deliquescence; surface adsorption on metals; adsorption on polar materials (wood) and strain-stress cycles. The European standard EN 15757 dealing with the historical climate will be illustrated.
• Synergism and conflict between different needs: optimal temperature and RH ranges in materials (metals; paper; photographs; pests: low temperature; low RH; wood: historical climate); people thermal comfort (e.g. ISO 7730: mild temperature; low to average RH); sustainability (natural temperature and RH levels; strategy to lower RH; e.g. heating?).
• Showcases: Standard showcases (EN 15999); historical showcases and VOC released from wood. A safe use of historical showcases is it possible?
• Future Scenarios: The EU funded project Climate for Culture; expected indoor scenarios for the 2021-2050 near future and 2071-2100 far future. Main risks to museums and collections.
Suggested bibliography Camuffo, D., 2019. Microclimate for Cultural Heritage – Measurement, Risk Assessment, Conservation, Restoration and Maintenance of Indoor and Outdoor Monuments. Third Edition. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York, ISBN: 978-0-444-64106-9
