Amines in steam humidification systems

James Stroud <stroud [at] mail__utexas__edu> writes

>If anyone has information or experience regarding the effects on
>collections that may result from the use of amines in direct steam
>humidification systems, we would be grateful to hear them.

At the Glenbow Museum a mixture of three amines are used as a
corrosion inhibitor in our steam humidification system.  A few years
ago several artifacts were found to have crystals growing on them.
Analysis of the crystals identified them as cyclohexylamine
hydrochloride.  Since cyclohexylamine is one of the amines used in
the humidification system, we suspected it to be the source of the
crystals.  Although air sample testing did not detect any amines in
an 7 hour testing period, the humidification amines still seems to
be the most likely source for the crystals.  Crystals have been
found on only a few artifacts, but we are still monitoring the
situation.  The artifacts affected have not been analyzed but
probably contain chlorides and are acidic (e.g. a ceramic jug which
was probably used for pickling) which would account for the crystal
formation.

Heather Dumka
Conservator - Artifacts
Glenbow Museum
130-9th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB  CANADA  T2G 0P3


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 14:45
                 Distributed: Friday, February 16, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-14-45-003
                                  ***