R&D activities

Archiv im Eisblock – Archäologisches Novum: Konservierung und Vakuumgefriertrocknung eines Aktenfundes (Archive in an Ice Block – an archaeological first: conservation and vacuum freeze-drying of an archival discovery).

Armin Laussegger, Sandra Sam (eds.): Im Bestand. Sammlungswissenschaftliche Einblicke. Activity Report 2025 of the Regional Collections of Lower Austria and the Centre for Museum Collection Studies. Publications of the Regional Collections of Lower Austria, No. 19. St. Pölten 2026.

Mag. Eleonora Weixelbaumer, Head of Central Services and Conservation & Restoration, Regional Collections of Lower Austria.

Eva Grandjean and Gianclaudio Mordasini, docusave AG.

A unique assemblage of files from the Second World War was recovered in Lower Austria as a consolidated soil block and, for the first time in this form, conserved as a whole. Within the framework of an interdisciplinary project, docusave developed an innovative approach to permanently stabilise the historical document fragments and photographs.

Article coming soon (in German).

Oil contamination in an archive: over 250 books successfully treated.

A leak in a restaurant caused rancid cooking oil to seep into an archive located below. More than 250 books were affected, including numerous rare editions. Some volumes were saturated across large areas and emitted an intense odour; others showed moderate to minor contamination.

docusave was charged with carrying out the restoration. The affected objects were vacuum-dried and subsequently treated with a targeted odour-neutralisation process. Result: the odour contamination was significantly reduced. The surfaces no longer feel waxy or greasy but are dry and stable again. No oily residues remain when turning the pages.

Sealing and inventory of 28,251 cross-sectional slices of trees found in various archaeological sites at prehistoric lake dwellings.

Archäologischer Dienst (cantonal archaeology service), Bern (Switzerland).

Assignment: Hermetically resealing all objects to prevent oxygen diffusion. Inventory of all data.

Article

Innocheck research project SOS – shrink or swell : Stress-strain behavior of gelatin, sturgeon glue, and methylcellulose at fluctuating relative humidity.

BFH Bern University of the Applied Sciences (Switzerland).

Project management: Prof. Dr. Karolina Soppa.

Project aim: To evaluate the most aging-resistant, environmentally beneficial, water-soluble and — above all — physically moisture-resistant adhesive for use in conservation/restoration, as a basis for subsequent foam production using vacuum freeze-drying.

The findings: Methylcellulose, which is both aging-resistant and water-soluble, proved to be the most resistant adhesive under fluctuating relative humidity. It is therefore the most sustainable material and also lends itself well to foaming.

Research paper: Hat die Kaltvernebelung mit handelsüblichen Schimmelbekämpfungsmitteln nachweisbare Auswirkungen auf Archiv- und Kulturgüter? (Do cold foggers with commercial-grade mould control products have a measurable effect on archival and cultural objects?)

Benedictus van Oudheusden, University of the Arts Bern (Switzerland).

A series of tests was conducted with common paper-based objects and various biocides to determine whether the concentration of bleaching substances in the biocides is high enough to effect a bleaching of the paper.

The findings: clear changes (bleaching effects) were observed. The results confirmed docusave’s standard practice of using cold foggers when disinfecting objects. The docusave specialists use biocidal products to disinfect cleaned rooms; however, the procedure is carried out exclusively in empty rooms. During a disinfection treatment, no books, documents and other organic material may be in the room. 

A note on the products used in the study (a hydrogen peroxide-based product from Sanosil AG, a commercially available quaternary ammonium compound (QAV) disinfectant): if used correctly, these mould-control or surface-disinfection products are safe and effective, and these qualities were in no way called into question. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the products are suitable for treating sensitive archival materials (or other organic products) despite their verified bleaching effect.

Innosuisse research project: Röntgenbestrahlung zur Desinfektion von cellulose-/papierhaltigen Archiv- und Kulturgütern (X-ray treatment to disinfect archival and cultural objects containing cellulose/paper).

University of the Arts Bern (Switzerland).

Project aim: to determine when, from a conservation standpoint, X-ray irradiation is a safe and effective way to disinfect archival and cultural objects containing cellulose/paper. In the project, the tangential effects of X-rays on materials is investigated. The article was published in the 2023/1 issue of Restaurator.

Integration of an AI scanner into docusave’s in-house logistics system.

Using artificial intelligence to collect data in during a project (see special projects 2021, above).

Development of a system for digitising deformed and contaminated records.

Development of DCM Docusave Climate Monitoring.

A climate monitoring system to ensure optimal control of ambient air.

Archivübel: Wasser, Staub und Pilze im Archiv – Dagegen lässt sich etwas tun (Trouble in the archives: water, dust and fungi in archives – a remedy is possible).

Passim 27/2021, The bulletin of the Swiss Literary Archives.

Privater Künstlernachlass durch Wasser im Keller fast völlig zerstört (Artist’s private estate nearly destroyed by water in the cellar).

A case study.

Article in German

Im Krieg mit dem Wasser – Wenn ein Wasserschaden eintritt, müssen die Restauratoren schnell arbeiten (At war with water: when water damage strikes, restorers need to work fast).

On the value of vacuum freeze-drying – an irreplaceable first-aid tool in the restoration of water-damaged paper and organic materials.

Dr Dietmar Stock-Nieden, Art Experts Brochure AXA XL, page 12.

Article