Re: [AV Media Matters] Polyline envelope

[stauderman@earthlink.net]

David wrote:>
 >
 >Could someone give more details on the Oddy Test.

The Oddy Test (for testing materials for the display and storage of
historical artifacts).

Oddy, W.A. 1973. "An unsuspected danger in display."  Museums Journal,
73(1):27-28.

This is a general description of the test designed by Andrew Oddy:  Cleaned
coupons of metal (e.g. lead, silver, iron, copper, zinc and others) known
for their sensitivity to corrosion by certain volatiles are sealed using
inert materials in a flask or jar that contains a source of humidity and the
packaging or storage material to be tested.  The flask is heated to 60
degrees centigrade for three to four weeks.  The metal coupons are then
examined under magnification for signs of corrosion compared to a control.

There are modifications to this test (high humidity, increased temperature,
the addition of light or uv radiation, the addition of pH strips), and it
should be noted that the conditions used for these tests are not meant to
reproduce natural aging, but are intended to exaggerate and accelerate any
reactions or problems that might occur.

This is a fairly uncomplicated test that does not require laboratory
instruments.

For more information about the utility of this test there are many articles
and several publications that cite the test including:

Storage of Natural History Collections:  A Preventive Conservation Approach.
   Carolyn Rose, Catharine Hawks, Hugh Genoways, editors.  1995.  Society for
the Preservation of Natural History Collections.

In case anyone else was wondering:

The Photographic Activity Test (PAT) Ansi IT9.6 1993 is a test developed
especially for photographic materials.  In short it requires two standard
"detectors" that mimic film negatives and photograph paper.  Both detectors
are incubated in close contact with the material that is to be tested, while
a control is also incubated without the test material.  After exposure, the
degree of overall staining, fading or mottling is compared with the control.

Sarah Stauderman
Conservator
VidiPax, the magnetic media restoration company
www.vidipax.com