Materials analyzed in 2019 - 2020

Round Robin testing of materials by the Materials Working Group

The goal of this work, conducted by members of AIC's Materials Working Group (MWG) Testing & Standards group starting in 2018, was to analyze a series of materials at several museums to see if a consistent result could be achieved at every location. The reason for the goal is to make sure every workplace can follow the same guidelines and obtain the same result.

The materials tested in the 2019 and 2020 Round Robins

• Buffered paper: University Products Perma/Cor E-Flute corrugated board 612-00180E
• Davey Board Red Label #18 from Colophon Book Arts Supply
• Komacel PVC board from Kommerling
• Komatex 2210 PVC board from Kommerling
• 3M 3762Q Hot Melt Adhesive
• 3M 3764Q Hot Melt Adhesive
• Dow Corning – Clear 3145 RTV MIL-A-46146 Adhesive Sealant (neutral cure silicone)
• Additional materials as needed for individual tests to act as controls

• pH tests: acidic, neutral, alkaline, newsprint, and archival papers
• Sulfur test: wool fibers (positive); cotton fibers (negative)
• Chlorine test: PVC film (positive); Mylar polyester film (negative)

Participants in the 2019 and/or 2020 Round Robin

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Winterthur Museum
• University of Torino
• Library of Congress
• National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
• Yale IPCH
• Dallas Museum of Art
• National Gallery of Art
• American Museum of Natural History
• Butler University/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
• National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

• The Cleveland Museum of Art
• Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
• The British Museum
• English Heritage
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Historic Royal Palaces
• The Natural History Museum (London, UK)

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