Historical Oddy Test Results: Felt

(test 1 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 3 samples of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on three samples of felt without adhesive backing.

The standard Oddy tests were carried out on the following materials as well as the sodium azide test for active sulfur compunds. The tests were carried out for 45 days at 30 degrees centigrade using pure coupons of copper, lead and silver at high RH. In no cases was any corrosion of the coupons observed. No reaction above background occurred with the sodium azide test. The following materials are therefore considered to be safe in the storage or display of museum objects.

SAMPLE NUMBER	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION	OBSERVATION
Sample 1	31-111MS Moss	No change in test blanks.
Sample 2	31-111OT Oat	No change in test blanks.
Sample 3	31-111TC Terracotta	No change in test blanks.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Based on the test results, the investigator would use the felt for padding mounts and similar applications.

(test 2 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 5 samples of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on five samples of with adhesive backing.

The test procedure was as follows: The samples were enclosed in a separate glass vial with blanks of polished lead, silver and copper. Half of the sample was placed beneath the blanks so that any affect of direct contact as well as volatile contaminates could be assessed. Moist cotton was placed in the test vial, which was then scaled and exposed to 55° C for 48 days.

A control vial was prepared in the same manner, without any sample, and exposed to the same conditions.

DAY	SAMPLE NUMBER	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION	OBSERVATION
1-33	Sample A1	31-111WH White	No change in test blanks.
1-33	Sample A2	31-111CG Cool Grey	No change in test blanks.
1-33	Sample A3	31-111TN Tan	No change in test blanks.
1-33	Sample A4	31-111DB Dark Brown	No change in test blanks.
1-33	Sample A5	31-111BK Black	No change in test blanks.
1-33	Control		No change in test blanks.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Based on the test results, the investigator would use the felt for padding mounts and similar applications.

(test 3 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 1 sample of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on one sample of cool grey (31-111CG) felt with and without adhesive backing.

The test procedure was as follows: This material was tested for volatile compounds which may create corrosion in display or storage using a variant of the standard "Oddy test". The production of volatile compounds was tested by isolating each sample to be tested in an air-tight glass vessel with polished metal coupons of lead, copper and silver. Distilled water was included in each vial to provide high relative humidity and accelerate any chemical reactions. A control set of coupons was also included. All coupons were exposed to temperatures of 40° C for a period of forty-eight days.

After this time period the coupons were removed and examined using a bench stereo microscope to asses the extent of corrosion.

This procedure was augmented by use of the sodium azide test employing cut fragments of the fabric exposed under glass to the sodium azide test reagent for 3-4 minutes while examining the extent of the reaction with a microscope with a control sample of hair as a standard.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

5a: One sample of cool grey felt with adhesive backing:

Control: no corrosion, oxidation or alteration was noted on the silver, copper or lead coupons.

no corrosion, oxidation or alteration was noted on any of the silver, copper or lead coupons; no change due to the proximity of the fabric noted, in particular in the adhesive backing. Contact of the adhesive backing with silver resulted in the backing discoloring to a brownish color but no corrosion had occurred to the silver due to the adhesive. This may simply be due to catalytic action of the silver on the adhesive in conditions of high humidity and does not appear to be any impediment to normal use.

Sodium azide test: no release of nitrogen, from which can be inferred that no reactive sulfur compounds are present in the material. This material therefore passed the sodium azide test.

CONCLUSIONS

This fabric test indicates that the fabric tested is safe in close proximity to art objects.

5b: One sample of cool grey felt without adhesive backing:

Control: no corrosion, oxidation or alteration was noted on the silver, copper or lead coupons.

no corrosion, oxidation or alteration was noted on the silver, copper or lead coupons; no change due to the proximity of the fabric noted.

Sodium azide test: no release of nitrogen, from which can be inferred that no reactive sulfur compounds are present in the material. This material therefore passed the sodium azide test.

CONCLUSIONS

This fabric test indicates that the fabric tested is safe to use in close proximity to art objects.

(test 4 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 3 samples of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on three samples of felt fabric. The test procedure was as follows. Each sample of the felt was enclosed in a separate glass vial with blanks of polished lead, silver and copper. Half of the sample was placed beneath the blanks so that any affect of direct contact as will. as volatile contaminates could be assessed. Moist cotton was placed in the test vial, which was then sealed and exposed. to 55° C for 35 days.

A control vial was prepared in the same manner, without any sample, and exposed to the same conditions.

DAY	SAMPLE NUMBER	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION	OBSERVATION
1-35	Sample 1: white without adhesive		No Change in test blanks.
1-35	Sample 2: white with adhesive		No Change in test blanks.
1-35	Sample 3: ivory with adhesive	31-111IV Ivory	No Change in test blanks.
1-35	Control		No Change in test blanks.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Based on the test results, the investigator would use these materials.

 

(test 5 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 2 samples of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on two samples of felt fabric. The test procedure was as follows. Each sample of the felt was enclosed in a separate glass vial with blanks of polished lead, silver and copper. Half of the sample was placed beneath the blanks so that any affect of direct contact as will. as volatile contaminates could be assessed. Moist cotton was placed in the test vial, which was then sealed and exposed. to 55° C for 40 days.

A control vial was prepared in the same manner, without any sample, and exposed to the same conditions.

DAY	SAMPLE NUMBER	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION	OBSERVATION
1-40	Sample 1	31-111WG Warm Grey	No Change in test blanks.
1-40	Sample 2	31-111CN Chestnut	No Change in test blanks.
1-40	Control		No Change in test blanks.

The samples caused no noticeable change in the metal blanks used in the tests. All samples were found to be colorfast to water.

(test 6 of 6) Oddy Test Results for 9 samples of Felt

TEST PROCEDURE: Oddy

An Oddy test was conducted on seven samples of felt fabric and two samples of black felt, one with adhesive backing. The test procedure was as follows: Each sample was enclosed in a separate glass vial with blanks of polished lead, silver and copper. Half of the sample was placed beneath the blanks so that any affect of direct contact as well as volatile contaminates could be assessed. Moist cotton was placed in the test vial, which was then scaled and exposed to 55° C for 48 days.

A control vial was prepared in the same manner, without any sample, and exposed to the same conditions.

DAY	SAMPLE NUMBER	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION	OBSERVATION
1-48	Sample 1: "burgundy"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 2: "white"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 3: "green"	31-111DG Dark Green	No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 4: "brown"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 5: "yellow ochre brown"		Very slight tarnish on silver blank.
1-48	Sample 6: "sienna brown"	31-111LB Light Brown	No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 7.a.: "black without adhesive"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 7.b.: "black with adhesive"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Sample 8: "gray"		No change in test blanks.
1-48	Control		No change in test blanks.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Sample 5 did show very slight tarnish of the silver blank beginning on day 36 of the test. This corrosion continued to be very slight and gradual and only occurred on the area of the blank left uncovered. In other words, no corrosion occurred in the area covered by the sample. The nature of the corrosion leads the investigator to believe that the corrosion may have resulted from a leak in the seal of the vial as opposed to volatile emissions from the sample. Based on these test results. the investigator would use all the fabrics in an exhibit case.

All samples were found to be colorfast to water.