DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING ARTWORKS AND/OR PORTABLE HERITAGE

Abstract

Disclosed is, on the one hand, a method for killing insects and/or mold of portable heritage and/or artworks, wherein the objects to be treated are temporarily treated in a sealed housing. On the other hand, disclosed is a device for carrying out an insect and/or mould (fungus) killing treatment on portable heritage and/or artworks, including a housing for temporarily placing the heritage and/or artwork of The method and device according to this disclosure were developed in particular to protect artworks and/or portable heritage against damage (by deterioration) and thus to preserve them for a longer period.

Disclosed is a method for decontaminating and/or extracting toxic substances of portable heritage and/or artworks, where the objects to be treated are temporarily treated in a sealed housing.

Claims

1. Method for killing insects and/or mould of portable heritage and/or artworks, wherein the objects to be treated are temporarily treated in a sealed housing, wherein the objects to be treated undergo a heating cycle whereby they are first heated in the housing to a core temperature situated between 45° C. and 55° C. for a predetermined time at which the core temperature is maintained in the treated object which is between 60 minutes and 480 minutes, and that during the treatment having a treatment time of at most 48 hours, the relative humidity in the housing has a value between 45% and 55%, and in that together with the object to be treated, a reference object is present in the housing, the reference object being made of similar material and having similar dimensions as the object to be treated and being provided in its core with a temperature sensor.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the core temperature is situated between 50° C. and 55° C.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the relative humidity in the housing has a value between 50% and 55%.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment comprises also a cooling cycle which follows after the heating cycle.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein during the treatment the temperature difference between the core temperature of the reference object and the surface temperature of the reference object is monitored.

6. Method for decontaminating and/or extracting toxic substances of portable heritage and/or artworks, wherein the objects to be treated are temporarily treated in a sealed housing, wherein the objects to be treated undergo a heating cycle whereby they are first heated in the housing to a core temperature situated between 45° C. and 55° C. for a predetermined time at which the core temperature is maintained in the treated object which is between 24 hours and 72 hours, and that during the treatment having a treatment time of at most 120 hours, the relative humidity in the housing has a value between 45% and 55%, and in that together with the object to be treated, a reference object is present in the housing, the reference object being made of similar material and having similar dimensions as the object to be treated and being provided in its core with a temperature sensor.

7. Device for carrying out an insect and/or mould treatment of portable heritage and/or artworks, comprising a housing for temporarily placing therein the object to be treated, comprising air supply means for feeding air into the housing, heating means for heating the air present in the housing, humidification means provided to give the air present in the housing a relative humidity, wherein the device further comprises a reference object which is present in the housing, the reference object being made of similar material and having similar dimensions as the object to be treated and being provided in its core with a temperature sensor.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises first measuring means for measuring the relative humidity in the housing, second measuring means for measuring the core temperature of the reference object, and third measuring means for measuring the surface temperature of the reference object placed in the housing.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the device further comprises a processing unit includes capable of processing the signals generated by the measuring means.

10. Device according to claim 7, wherein the device has a capacity located between 25 m.sup.3 and 100 m.sup.3.

11. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Reference is made in this description by reference figures to the drawings attached hereto, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1: is a top view of a device according to the disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 2: shows a treatment curve of a painting frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present disclosure relates to a method (process) for killing insects and/or fungi (mould) on portable (movable) heritage and/or artworks, regardless of the stage in the insect's life cycle. By application of the method, the treated objects, being portable heritage and/or artworks can remain preserved for a longer time.

[0037] The method according to the disclosure is in principle a moisture regulated thermal treatment and is extremely suitable for treating objects in paper, textiles, carpets, leather, fur, ethnographic pieces but also wood and furniture, musical instruments, polychromed sculptures and paintings, in the fight against woodworm (Anobium Punctatum), powderpost beetle (Lyctus brunneus), death watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum) silverfish (Lepisma saccharina), longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus), tobacco, carpet and biscuit beetle, clothes moth, but also funghi and (wood) fungus (wood rot).

[0038] The treatment method according to the disclosure includes a heating phase, a holding phase and a cooling phase. In the heating phase the whole object is heated to 45° C. to 55° C., preferably to 50° C. to 55° C., a temperature at which organisms are 100% effectively eliminated. In the holding phase, i.e as soon the desired temperature is reached in the core of the object, the temperature is held for a well-defined time and at a well-defined core temperature. In the cooling phase, the object is cooled back to ambient temperature. An average treatment cycle for killing insects and/or fungi lasts about 24 hours.

[0039] The principle behind the method is to ensure stable humidity in the treated objects by maintaining the relative humidity in a limited range of variation between 45 and 55% throughout the heating cycle until to an organism lethal temperature of 52° C. on average and cooling back to ambient temperature. A continuous monitoring via computer of the relative humidity in the housing (2) preserve objects from damage. The temperature difference between the surface of an object and the core in all three phases (heating, holding, cooling phases) is also determined in advance and monitored during treatment.

[0040] According to the disclosure, a reference object is present in the housing together with the object to be treated. The reference object is made of similar material and has similar dimensions as the object to be treated and is provided in its core with a temperature sensor. By using a reference object, one can determine approximately the core temperature of the object to be treated and should not damage the heritage by being able to place the temperature sensor centrally in the reference object. The reference objects are preferably round or beam-shaped. Using a reference object provides an estimate of the real temperature of the core of the object to be treated, so that the user can set (adapt) the temperature in the housing in order to maintain the core temperature of the treated object between 45° C. and 55° C. and can determine the predetermined time at which the core temperature is maintained.

[0041] The method according to the disclosure is an ecological technique that uses only natural elements (water and air), and compared to other methods, surpasses them in speed and effectiveness. Moreover, the treatment is non-invasive, non-toxic and 100% effective and therefore cost efficient, with continued attention and respect for the integrity of the artwork.

[0042] The method is applied in a device (1) which includes a lockable housing (2) that can be considered a humidity controlled heat chamber. In practice the treatment chamber has a capacity (content) of 30 m.sup.3 to 100 m.sup.3 and can be either permanent (fixed) or mobile (e.g. provided in a truck).

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a possible implementation form of a device (1) according to the disclosure, the device (1) comprises: [0044] air supply means to feed air into the housing (2); [0045] heating means for heating the air present in the housing (2) sufficiently so that an object placed in the housing (2) reaches a core temperature located between 45° C. and 55° C.; [0046] humidifying agents provided to give the air present in the housing (2) a relative humidity located usually between 40% and 60%; [0047] the interior of the housing (2) is also provided with means for placing the object to be treated and means for placing the reference object.

[0048] As an illustration, an enclosure (housing) may have e.g. the following dimensions: interior dimensions: 5900×4700×3600 mm. (WxDxH); outside dimensions: 6100×4900×3800 mm. (W×D×H), whereby the inner walls are provided with an antibacterial coating. The bottom is made of stainless steel. The housing is also fitted with an insulation material (e.g. 100 mm PU rigid foam) between the inner and outer walls. The housing (2) is accessible via two door wings. If necessary, an inclined plane at the level of the access doors can be provided to make it easier to bring larger objects into the interior of the housing (2).

[0049] Ultrasonic humidification is preferably used because such humidification ensures a more even distribution of humidity in the housing and the power consumption is very low.

[0050] The air is heated inside the housing to the desired temperature, the humidity is generated outside the housing (2) and added to the internal air stream. The warmed and humidified air is then blown in a continuous cycle around the room through air ducts and/or through small perforations over the entire inner side walls of the housing (2). Inside the casing are sensors that measure the relative humidity and room temperature.

[0051] In order to capture the dust particles, spores and possible residues of biocides generated during the process, the device is equipped with filter units suitable to accommodate various filter types, such as e.g. HEPA or activated carbon filters, . . . The objects to be treated, preferably heritage or artworks, after assessment by a conservator regarding temperature sensitivity of the surface layers, are placed in the housing (chamber) where they are then treated at a well-defined (core) temperature and humidity.

[0052] The two parameters (temperature and humidity) are set based on the type of insect and/or mould species, the type of object/material, and the relative humidity of the object at the start of treatment.

[0053] A treatment cycle lasts an average of 24 hours but can be slightly shorter or longer. The treatment is controlled by software via a processing unit (processor) that can also be operated remotely.

[0054] Humidification never takes place directly on the objects but outside them, e.g. in the machine room in the truck, or ultrasonically in the case of the fixed room. Sensors in reference blocks are used (placed along with the treatment chamber) to verify that the temperature is reached in the objects with the largest diameter.

[0055] The process also includes alarm thresholds that, when exceeded, cause the treatment to be stopped.

[0056] The integrity of the treated artworks and heritage is ensured by continuously monitoring and adjusting the relative humidity in the enclosure on the one hand, (when it is no longer within the specified range), and on the other hand by monitoring the difference in temperature between the surface of the treated heritage (temperature in the casing) and its core temperature, the so-called delta T. The core temperature is known by using a refence object. By defining the delta T during the ‘holding phase’ (this is the phase when the target core temperature is reached and maintained for a well-defined time), the maximum temperature in the housing and in the object can be limited, so that no overshooting can occur.

[0057] The method according to the present disclosure is currently the only one available which is completely ecological and also 100% effective for both some fungi and all insects, regardless of their life stage (adult, chrysalis, larva or egg), since the heat generated breaks down the insect's proteins. This method is also extremely fast (24 hours on average), especially compared to the known anoxia treatment which in practice takes about 4 weeks.

[0058] The method according to the disclosure is also suitable for decontaminating or at least partially extracting toxic substances from heritage and/or works of art via heating and humidity control, and this until the presence of certain substances has been reduced to an acceptable level (below a well-defined threshold). The duration of the cycles as well as the specific parameters to be used for a specific substance (toxin) depend on the toxin to be removed. When applying the method for decontaminating heritage and/or works of art, the total amount of decontamination, the total duration can be longer than the maximum of 24 hours applicable to the method of killing insects and/or fungi. Normally, the total duration should be below a maximum of 120 hours, preferably a treatment time of at most 96 hours. Furthermore, when applying this method, suitable filters should be used to capture the toxins in question.

[0059] In the example below, with reference to the curve presented on FIG. 2, the method according to the disclosure for killing insect and/or fungi is further explained.

[0060] Example: treatment of a painting frame:

[0061] In this example, a painting frame from the 17th century with polychromy and on which the presence of the organism Anobium was detected, was treated in accordance with the disclosure, and this in the presence of a reference object implemented as a thin beam-shaped wood section with a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the painting frame.

[0062] The following parameters are preset: [0063] core temperature: 52° C.; [0064] relative humidity (RH): 52%.

[0065] During the process the Delta T was monitored and this via the reference block, in this case these were: 10-4-12. The Delta T numbers define the maximum temperature difference between object core and object surface (=room temperature). The lower the delta T the slower the process. Depending on the thickness-section of the material to be treated a reference block is placed in the housing as well in its core is provided with a temperature sensor. Per size (diameter) a certain setting of the parameters temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) is ideal for the process (about 24 hours), this setting can also be slightly varied through programming.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows the treatment curve where the temperature is plotted against the dwell time: [0067] the line indicated by reference (a): indicates the stability of the relative humidity; there is a variation of ±2% with some peaks of 3%; [0068] the line indicated by reference (b): the temperature inside the housing (room), it is up to 56° C., very stable upwards and downwards indicating a very slow and long heating up in the housing and a very slow and long cooling down in the housing; [0069] the line indicated by reference (c): the temperature in the core of the reference block; the temperature of 52° C. in the core is maintained for 60 min. and is very stable.

[0070] Based on the information from the treatment curve, we can infer that the humidity has remained stable, a core temperature of 52° C. has been reached with 100% kill rate resulting, and this without causing any damage to the treated frame.