Piezo-electric quartz crystal-based dosimetry and damage assessment of parchment and artists’ varnish

This paper describes work performed within three EU funded projects and traces the development and applications of a piezo-electric quartz crystal (PQC)based dosimeter. Indoor monitoring using the prepared dosimeters took place initially within museums and historic castles in the framework of the MIMIC project (Microclimate Indoor Monitoring for Cultural Heritage Preservation, EVKV-CT-200000040). Dosimeters were placed in the proximity of painted works of art. In the two following projects the dosimeters were adapted for use in space restricted enclosures which included organ pipes and microclimate frames containing paintings. This was performed in the framework of the SENSORGAN (Sensor system for Detection of Harmful Environments for Pipe Organs, contract no. 022695) and the PROPAINT (Improved protection of paintings during exhibition, storage and transit, FP6 SSPI no.044254) projects respectively. The development of the dosimeter involved miniaturization of electronic components, and development of software to allow continuous monitoring and data acquisition, also using battery operated units. Two types of coatings for the PQC crystals were used: natural resin mastic varnish (MIMIC, PROPAINT) and lead metal (SENSORGAN, PROPAINT). In addition to the dosimetry work, methods for damage assessment of materials, in particular for collagen-based parchment and varnish as performed in the IDAP (Improved Damage Assessment of Parchment EVK4-CT-200100061) project and PROPAINT projects respectively will be reported.