Non-destructive microfade testing at the National Museum of Australia

Abstract

Limiting light-induced colour change of displayed objects to an acceptable degree is an important but difficult task for conservators, who are required to make exposure decisions which have fundamental consequences for access and display, usually without adequate rate data. The NMA’s early experience with an accelerated fading technique known as microfading, which uniquely allows the relative rates of colour change of actual museum objects to be estimated, is described. The technique is rapid, essentially non-destructive and highly cost-effective, allowing the museum to identify and concentrate its resources on protecting the most vulnerable objects, rather than applying blanket rules to very broad classes of colourants.