Special Exhibitions
Conserving the Past for the Future
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Special Exhibitions |
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Conserving the Past for the Future |
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How Light Can Damage Objects in Museums Light can damage objects in direct ways. For example, through photochemical reactions (i.e., the breaking of chemical bonds), light can fade or otherwise alter colors. Almost all colorants - inks, pigments, and dyes - are susceptible to light damage, and in the case of organic pigments and dyes, this damage can be extreme. Light damage is often seen as the loss or dimming of color, but can also refer to the darkening or browning of color.Light promotes an accelerated aging of materials leading to embrittlement and loss of structural integrity in paper and other supports, such as silk and parchment. This type of deterioration is often accompanied by discoloration. The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum called "light" has a heating effect that can lead to drying out and permanent distortion of certain materials. The energy from light also accelerates other forms of deterioration. For example, light promotes the oxidation of materials through interaction with oxygen (photo-oxidation), and light speeds up acid-related damage via the acid hydrolysis of materials like paper. The type and the amount or intensity of the light, as well as the duration and frequency of exposure, must all be taken into consideration when exhibiting museum objects. Type of Light Intensity of Light Frequency and Duration Page 5 of 5 | On the next page: The Making of Queen Isabella of Spain's Book of Hours |
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