A simple generalized mass transfer model for evaluation of the environmental performance of archival boxes

Markelj, Jernej (author), Grau-Bové, Josep (author), Kraševec, Ida (author), Vereecken, Evy (author), Strlič, Matija (author)

Enclosure materials can have a variety of properties that moderate relative humidity (RH) in relation to external RH fluctuations. In this study of different constructions and board types we developed a simple empirical model to predict the relative humidity damping capacity via a Humidity Attenuation (HA) index. A multiple linear regression model was built to predict the HA index based on the material/box properties. The results indicate that at low ventilation rates, vapour permeability has a similar (but opposite) effect to moisture buffering and that stacking boxes or filling them with paper significantly improves the enclosure’s RH damping capacity. This work will provide a more realistic assessment of the suitability of museum enclosure microenvironments with respect to RH moderation. To increase applicability in practice, a decision-making tool (an online app) was developed for curators and conservators to support preventive conservation measures.

• Language: English
• Keywords: humidity attenuation (HA) index, archival box performance, preventive conservation, mass transfer model
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 06.08.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, art. 387
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171140
• UDC: 7.025:66.021.3
• ISSN on article: 3059-3220
• DOI: 10.1038/s40494-025-01958-7
• COBISS.SI-ID: 245239555
• Publication date in RUL: 08.08.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Npj heritage science
• Shortened title: npj herit. sci.
• Publisher: Nature Portfolio
• ISSN: 3059-3220
• COBISS.SI-ID: 237419523

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: indeks dušenja vlažnosti (HA indeks), učinkovitost arhivskih škatel, preventivna konservacija, model prenosa mase