Comments on an improved Oddy test using metal films

摘要

Studies in Conservation recently published the article 'An Improved Oddy Test Using Metal Films' (Wang et al, 2011). As co-author of 'A Variant Oddy Test Procedure for Evaluating Materials used in Storage and Display Cases' (Bamberger et al., 1999), I would like to comment. One of the basic test components of the published and widely-used Oddy test are three metal coupons which serve as 'surrogates' for the art objects. In these tests the metal coupons (silver, copper, and lead) are exposed to possible corrosive gases evolved and any visible resultant corrosion on the test coupons are observed and recorded. The procedure described in the subject paper provides corrosion results for only two metal films: silver and copper, which serve as 'surrogates' for the art objects (using the authors' designation). The absence of the third metal, lead, omits observation and evaluation of possible corrosion effects on art objects containing lead and lead compounds. Such lead-containing artifacts are widely used and exhibited in museums.