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CASE STUDIES

Atomic oxygen experiment at the European Space Agency ESA

To explore AO effects on typical cultural heritage materials, 39 mockups were made: plaster, limestone, acrylic paint, canvas, pastel, paper were prepared and experimented on at ESA using the space environment simulator ESTEC TEC-QEE LEOX. The simulator consists of a vessel composed of three compartments separated by an electro-pneumatic valve and an orifice in the main chamber where the samples are exposed to 99% AO under low-pressure conditions, using IR CO2 laser detonation.  39 samples, each measuring 2 x 2 cm, were prepared and soiled with typical contaminants: soot, spray paint, ballpoint pen, markers, lipstick. Currently, the samples are in progress of investigation and assessment, and serve as a pilot study selecting art materials and their testing and characterisation methodology. 

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the European Research Executive Agency (REA) , the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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