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Ecomuseu Municipal do Seixal is aiming to exhibit three oil portraits on canvas from the 19th century in the Tide Mill of Corroios. Due to its location, intrinsic to its function of Tide Mill, the building exhibits environmental conditions characterized by severe fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity. This work aims to propose a model of microclimate frame that offers a solution for the continued preservation of the three paintings. The frame's design was chosen based on the study of the environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity) of the exhibition room at the Tide Mill as well as in the results of an in situ experiment involving model frames. The proposal here described, a microclimate frame with silica gel as buffering material, considered the designs presented in the literature, the individual needs of the paintings and, finally, the available budget.

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Air pollution is one of the environmental influences that degrade cultural heritage objects situated indoors. Other essential influences, such as temperature, relative humidity, and light are often well monitored. The presence of air pollutants is less often measured or included in risk assessment. The MEMORI®technology presented in this paper was developed as a tool for easy measurement and assessment of the general risk of degradation of heritage objects situated indoors due to indoor exposure to air pollutants. MEMORI dosimetry was performed in locations belonging to English Heritage and Tate (both located in London) and the National Archives of Norway in Oslo, to assess air quality. The related damage risk for collection objects and the protection offered by display and storage designs was assessed. A high level of acidic effect was observed inside a number of showcases, and a high level of oxidizing effect was observed in some room locations. Relatively simple mitigation measures, such as constructing tightly sealed showcases using low emitting materials, installing active carbon absorbing media inside a ‘microclimate’ frame, and using cardboard storage boxes for paper, significantly improved air quality. Overall, implementation of such measures is likely to improve the preservation of objects and reduce conservation costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive microclimate frames are exhibition enclosures able to modify their internal climate in order to comply with paintings' conservation needs. Due to a growing concern about the effects of climate change, future policies in conservation must move towards affordable and sustainable preservation strategies. This study investigated the hygrothermal conditions monitored within a microclimate frame hosting a portrait on cardboard with the aim of discussing its use in view of the climate expected indoors in the period 2041–2070. Its effectiveness in terms of the ASHRAE classification and of the Lifetime Multiplier for chemical deterioration of paper was assessed comparing temperature and relative humidity values simultaneously measured inside the microclimate frame and in its surrounding environment, first in the Pio V Museum and later in a residential building, both located in the area of Valencia (Spain). Moreover, heat and moisture transfer functions were used to derive projections over the future indoor hygrothermal conditions in response to the ENSEMBLES-A1B outdoor scenario. The adoption of microclimate frames proved to be an effective preventive conservation action in current and future conditions but it may not be sufficient to fully avoid the chemical degradation risk without an additional control over temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]