A research team including conservators from the New York State Bureau of Historic Sites, scientists with the Physics Department of Union College, Schenectady, New York, and scientists from the nanotechnology industry began experimenting with nanoparticles to advance conservation treatments in the field of historic preservation. This collaboration was prompted by a challenging mural conservation project.. The mural suffered from decades of deterioration and multiple failed conservation treatments making the need for anew approach apparent.
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The NCPTT 2010 Annual Report outlines research, training, and grant activities undertaken by the Center during FY2010.
NCPTT advances the application of science and technology to historic preservation. Working in the fields of archeology, architecture, landscape architecture and materials conservation, the Center accomplishes its mission through training, education, research, technology transfer and partnerships.
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The purpose of this project was to develop improved consolidants for restoration of stone damaged by weathering. Conventional consolidants are organic polymers or silica gels, which are simple materials that do not permit matching of a range of properties of the stone.
Later improvement of the suspension procedure resulted in consolidants that are much more stable and fluid. Stone treated with the particle-modified consolidant (PMC) increases dramatically in stiffness and strength. Most impressively in a sodium sulfate test, the PMC provided better protection than a commercial silicate consolidant.
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