Accelerated ageing test (Oddy test) of additive manufacturing materials for cultural heritage use

Abstract

Restoring missing parts of cultural heritage (CH) objects, such as sculptures, archaeological artefacts, or decorative arts, typically marks the final phase in the conservation process. During this treatment, conservators rely on materials known for their ageing properties and lack of adverse effects on the historical item. As technology progresses, new methods and techniques emerge, including additive manufacturing (AM), which has been employed in CH restoration since the early 2010s. However, questions within the CH conservation community have arisen about the suitability of AM materials for this purpose.

This paper outlines the process and presents the outcomes of an accelerated ageing test on collected ceramic, ceramic-like, glass-like, paper-based and polymer AM materials. The Oddy test results suggest that some commercially available AM materials are suitable for conservation use. However, inconsistent results across different labs highlight concerns about the reliability and consistency of Oddy testing. This procedure is an integral part of a doctoral research project focused on the use of additive manufacturing method to restore ceramic and glass archaeological artefacts. This research could benefit conservators of antiquities and works of art, museum curators and material scientists who would like to use the additive manufacturing method as a complementary restoration method for their conservation process or museum curation.