Method to improve behavior of a museum display case towards exhibited objects

Abstract

A method for treating museum display cases includes subjecting a display case to alternating heating and resting steps. The heat treatment process substantially reduces the emission of volatile substances, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), from the materials comprising the display case. The reduction in volatile emissions prevents damage to museum objects subsequently exhibited within the treated display case.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of reducing emission of volatile substances in a museum display case having an inner display space defined at least in part by one or more walls joined by adhesives and sealed with gaskets, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) assembling the museum display case from materials including at least one material liable to emit volatile substances, the museum display case having at least one openable wall;   (b) performing a heat treatment on at least the inner display space by subjecting the museum display case to a plurality of heating steps, each heating step being carried out at a heating temperature of at least 35° C. for a heating period of at least 24 hours; and   (c) interposing at least one rest step between consecutive heating steps, each rest step being carried out for at least 24 hours without active heating, wherein the heat treatment accelerates the release of volatile substances from the materials liable to emit them, thereby reducing subsequent emission of said substances during normal use of the museum display case.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heating temperature in step (b) is about 50° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each heating period in step (b) is at least about 48 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each rest period in step (c) is at least about 48 hours. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein all heating steps and rest steps have approximately the same duration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heat treatment comprises at least three heating steps and at least two rest steps, with a heating step preceding the first rest step and following the last rest step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising periodically activating an air exchange step within the inner display space for at least five minutes every hour during both the heating steps and the rest steps. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the periodic air exchange step comprises automatically opening and closing at least one vent connected to the inner display space. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein performing the heat treatment comprises placing the entire assembled museum display case in a chamber that is heated to the heating temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein performing the heat treatment comprises placing heating elements directly inside the inner display space of the museum display case, and controlling said heating elements to achieve the plurality of heating steps. 
     
     
         21 . A museum display case produced according to the method of  claim 11 , the museum display case comprising:
 (a) a base, a frame, and at least one transparent wall defining an inner display space;   (b) adhesive material bonding at least one fixed transparent wall to the base and/or the frame;   (c) at least one sealing gasket disposed between an openable transparent wall and an adjacent wall or the base; and   (d) an interior configured to receive objects to be displayed, wherein the museum display case is characterized by a reduced emission of volatile substances inside the inner display space as a result of the heat treatment.