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Carnegie Mellon University

The art conservation research center does applied research focused on developing practical and effective strategies for preventing and repairing damage to cultural properties. The Center’s current research has emphasized problems of modern art and library materials. Studies on color and paper degradation are on-going, as well as investigations focusing on acrylic paint materials, physical damage in modern paints, environmental conditions for paper storage, and methods for probing the condition and stability of artifacts. The Center is a part of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and it is located in the Pittsburgh Technology Center building, on the banks of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, PA about 1 mile from the CMU campus. The staff of eight includes three full-time scientists, two interns, the Director and Deputy Director, and an office assistant. In addition to the analytical instruments, the laboratories are equipped with a constant environment room, aging ovens and light exposure apparatus, and a collection of pigment and resin reference materials. The Center’s activities include in-house scientific investigations as well as collaborative projects with other laboratories, museums, and libraries.

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