Conservation science and treatments, preventive conservation, training and research for the better understanding and preservation of Canada’s cultural heritage collections.
The Canadian Conservation Institute houses a variety of scientists, engineers and conservators who undertake collaborative research in order to better understand the material properties of cultural heritage collections, their degradation phenomena and optimised conservation treatment.
- Analytical services for heritage objects
- Library and archival materials testing
- Lightfastness testing of colorants in heritage objects
- Conservation of heritage materials, including paintings, paper, books, indigenous and historic objects, archaeological materials, furniture and textiles
- Modelling of deterioration mechanism of heritage materials
- Risk assessment of heritage collections
- Arts and cultural industries
Specialized labs and equipment
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Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|
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Microdiffraction system: Rigaku RINT Rapid II MM007 |
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of microsamples using collimators ranging from 10 to 800 µm |
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Variable pressure scanning electron microscope: Hitachi SU3500 equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (Oxford Inca X-act analytical silicon drift X-ray detector and AZtec X-ray microanalysis system) and wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) (Oxford Inca Wave 500 4-crystal spectrometer) detectors |
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and microanalysis (EDS/WDS) of microsamples in high vacuum or variable pressure mode |
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Bruker ARTAX μ-XRF spectrometer |
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry in situ analysis of museum objects and works of art with a spot size ranging from less than 100 µm to 1.5 mm |
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Bruker HYPERION 2000 FTIR microscope interfaced to a Tensor 27 spectrometer |
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of microsamples |
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Bruker Senterra Raman microscope equipped with three lasers (532, 633 and 785 nm) |
Raman analysis of microsamples and in situ Raman analysis of museum objects and works of art using an external probe |
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Digital radiography: Carestream Industrex HPX-1 Digital System with Lorad LXP160 X-ray tube and GE Macrotank G300 X-ray tube |
X-radiography of museum objects and works of art |
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Series 901 Leaf casting machine with a casting area of 640 mm x 760 mm |
Used in the conservation of paper objects to strengthen the paper and replace losses |
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Virtis large capacity freeze dryer |
Used in the preservation of wet or waterlogged materials such as waterlogged wood, wet heritage collections from salvage operations, etc. |
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ColdJet i3 MicroClean Dry Ice blaster |
Traditional abrasive blasting type unit where dry ice is used as the blasting media; used for removal of corrosion or overpaint from objects, without any residue of the blasting media |
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Carbon dioxide snow cleaning apparatus - K6-10DG-B Dual Gas Model B |
Used for removal or reduction of oils, grease, dust, metal polish residue and other from smooth, hard surfaces or highly textured surfaces |
Private and public sector research partners
- Getty Conservation Institute (Los Angeles, California)
- Queen’s University, Masters of Art Conservation Program (Kingston, Ontario)
- Centre de recherche sur la conservation des collections (Paris, France)
- National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)
- Kyushu National Museum (Dazaifu, Japan)
- Canadian Light Source (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Additional information
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Title |
URL |
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About the Canadian Conservation Institute |
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Canadian Conservation Institute's Annual Reviews for 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 |