Use of artificial metal coupons to test new protection systems on cultural heritage objects: manufacturing and validation

摘要

New protection systems for cultural heritage artefacts can be tested and their efficiency, compared to traditional systems, assessed using artificial metal coupons. The manufacturing of these coupons requires though a thorough investigation of the artefacts that they are supposed to simulate. Not only their composition, but their surface preparation (through artificial or natural aging) should copy as closely as possible real artefacts. Protection systems tested should be applied according to standardised protocols, while short term testing in humid chamber and long term testing on site should be monitored regularly to detect any possible failure. Only then the use of such artificial metal coupons will be validated. This approach is illustrated in this paper through the EU PROMET and Swiss POINT research projects.