ARTIC-1: A New Humidity Buffer for Showcases

Abstract This paper considers an efficient approach to passive humidity control for art objects in exhibition cases, picture frames and transporting containers. This approach is based on a gas–solid chemical reaction between an inorganic salt and water vapor. Requirements for hydration/dehydration reactions and salt hydrates, which are optimal for hydrostats for safe display, conservation and transportation of various works of art, ancient manuscripts, books, archival documents, etc., have been formulated. New materials for maintaining the relative humidity between 40 and 70% have been synthesized and studied. Tests on a novel material (the so-called ARTIC-1) for maintaining the relative humidity between 50 and 60% at the Museum of the History and Culture of Siberian Nations (Novosibirsk, Russia) and the State Scientific Library of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences showed its feasibility for the efficient smoothing of daily and seasonal variations of the relative humidity. These trials confirmed that ARTIC-1 is an effective adsorbent for use in sufficiently airtight showcases and containers.