Please see below the backlist of IAP Virtual courses which we have organised in 2021. The courses look at a topic more in depth than the seminars, the courses are split in two sessions over two days running around 6hours in total.
Polymers: Cultural Heritage & Analysis
Rebecca Ploeger
- Overview of polymer terminology, nomenclature, structure and important properties
- Polymer applications in cultural heritage
- Solvent and waterborne systems
- Shaping/ manufacturing: foams, films, 3D objects
- Adhesives and consolidants
- Paints and varnishes
Exploring polymers without complex analytical equipment
- using your human senses (visual, tactile and olfactory observations)
- microchemical tests
- materials testing (e.g. Oddy tests, A/D strips, etc.)
Exploring polymers with complex analytical equipment
- FTIR
- Py-GC-MS (and related chromatography and MS techniques)
- other methods (SEC, NMR, Raman Spectroscopy, etc.)
Printmaking Techniques: Relief, intaglio, planografic, and screen printing
Hildegard Homburger
Describing prints can be a challenge. Identifying the printing process and choosing the right terminology for conditions reports, inventories or catalogues is not always easy. The artistic and industrial printing techniques undergo a constant development. Modern technology allows a great variety of relief, intaglio, lithography, screen and non-impact prints. Therefore, artistic prints can no longer be limited only to the classical processes. Artists are using new technical possibilities with interest.
In this course the focus will be on the manual processes. Relief, intaglio, planografic, and screen printing with their numerous subgroups will be presented in detail during lectures.
The special characteristics of each technique will be worked out and their terminology discussed.
Nanocellulose Films in Paper Conservation
Remy Dreyfuss-Deseigne
This two-session virtual course will provide established paper conservators with a theoretical and practical foundation for understanding the use of nanocellulose films in paper conservation.
Graphic artworks and documents made of translucent or transparent supports are abundant in archives, libraries, and museum collections. They include thin papers, tracing papers, and cellulose acetate sheets or films. These supports are generally delicate and fragile, and the artworks and documents often have some structural issues, such as tears or delamination of the media. It becomes especially problematic when there becomes a need to handle these already fragile materials for consultation, digitization, or exhibition. The field of nanotechnologies offers new possibilities to stabilize translucent and transparent supports with innovative materials. This course will focus on one kind of nanomaterials – the nanocellulose films, also known as nanopapers.
Integrated Pest Management
David Pinniger and Jane Thompson Webb
This two-session virtual course discusses Integrated Pest Management, Trapping and Monitoring, and how to control Insect Pests. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme can only be effective if there is an understanding of which insects are present and whether pest numbers are stable, increasing or decreasing. Pests can attack a wide range of materials including ethnographic, social history, textiles, furniture, paper, books and taxidermy.
Identification of Insect Pests in Collections
David Pinniger and Jane Thompson Webb
This two-session virtual course focusses on identifying the insect pests that may be found in collections of objects in museums and galleries, historic houses etc. Such insects may well have been observed and recorded on insect pest traps in the context of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme.
In addition to discussions on identifying common insect pests, participants will learn of new pests and possible future problems. There will be ample opportunity to discuss particular issues or problems experienced by participants. The focus will be on European pests but there will also be mention of USA species and termites.
Participants who have experience of IPM will benefit most from this course and everyone will be encouraged to send in images of insects which they wish to identify/confirm either before the course or before the second day of the course.
Hazards in Collections
Larry Carr
This online course is a basic introduction to the topic of hazards in collections. It provides an awareness of a range of commonly encountered hazards, giving relevant object and archival examples, indicating situations where there may be a chance of being harmed and describing useful precautions which may help to reduce risks.
The prime focus is the range of hazardous objects and hazardous materials which may be encountered by conservators, technicians, collections managers, registrars, etc who work with museum, gallery and other collections of objects and art. The emphasis is on the evaluation of the risks posed by different materials, measures to control / minimise such risks* and the practicalities of protecting oneself and other staff against them including the use of warning labelling. Over the 4 sessions, the materials covered include asbestos, radioactive substances, toxic metals, pesticides, biohazards, chemicals, poisons, controlled drugs, firearms and ammunition, nitrate film and polychlorinated biphenyls. Physical hazards (blades, glass, pressure vessels etc) are also considered. Handouts will be provided.
* Legislation exists in most countries to control the availability and use of hazardous materials. This is mentioned in relation to UK law (which remains very close to the EU law) but not covered in detail.
