Properties of Material and Storage of Composite Objects — the Control of the Influences of Environments and the Analyses of Interactions Among Materials
Many art objects are made from a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials, each subject to different types of deterioration, and each requiring special environmental conditions, display methods, and conservation treatment to insure its stability. To assess the preservation requirments to composite objects, it is essential to examine all components, to identify the materials employed, to classify them, and to understanding their reactivity and sensitivity toward their environment and each other. The preservation and treatment of these composite objects often depends on a compromise between the conflicting conservation needs of component materials.
For all materials, conservation begins by stabilizing the surrounding environment. This includes controlling the relative humidity and temperature, light, pests, and pollutions in the atmosphere. Environment control generally have far greater than does restoration, especially when dealing with composite objects.
The present article will deal with the basic preservation problems of these composite objetcs, with recommendations for their storage and environmental requirements.