Mapping Environmental Conditions That Prevent Plastic Deterioration While Contributing to Sustainable Preservation Environmental Management
The Image Permanence Institute received a National Leadership Grant for Museums from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in the amount of $711,598 to support a three-year research project that will study the relationship between equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and the physical stability of plastics and plastic composite artifacts found in museums.
The experimental design for this project builds on previous research on moisture and plasticizers conducted by Emma J. Richardson, IPI Director of Research, and the EMC work of Jean-Louis Bigourdan, IPI Research Scientist Emeritus. Grant funding will support extending laboratory capabilities with new instrumentation and include recruitment of a two-and-a-half year Post-Doctoral Researcher. The appointed researcher will conduct research using advanced thermomechanical analytical techniques and data analytics to quantify the impact of changing environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of plastic composites, with a view to identifying safe storage, display, and handling conditions for historic plastics. A search for the Post-Doctoral Researcher position will begin this month.
Recommended News
-
February 12, 2025
Interdisciplinary collaborations drive innovation in cultural heritage preservation
RIT’s interdisciplinary collaborations enrich research across the university and beyond. Two of these collaborative projects recently received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of a total $22.6 million in grants given to support humanities projects across the nation.
-
March 5, 2024
New grant supports Image Permanence Institute’s research on the stability of 3D-printed objects
To help address the void in research surrounding 3D printing as a tool for display, storage, preservation, conservation, and more, Meredith Noyes received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a research project to inform decision making.
-
August 10, 2023
MFA student lends 3D printing knowledge to IPI research project
Xinxin Li ’24 MFA (industrial design) is contributing a wealth of experience in CAD modeling, rendering, and 3D printing to a research project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
-
September 15, 2022
Image Permanence Institute receives significant grant to research plastic deterioration
The Image Permanence Institute, housed in RIT’s College of Art and Design, received a National Leadership Grant for Museums from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for research into plastic deterioration of modern heritage collections, specifically their physical response to storage and display environments.