ABSTRACT
In 2007, the National Museum of Denmark initiated a three-year, multidisciplinary research project into the conservation of industrial objects for future generations. The project focuses on the protection of industrial objects containing iron or steel. An extensive investigation of peer reviewed literature published since 2000 and commercial sources of protection systems for outdoor steel, including coatings, oils, waxes and corrosion inhibitors, was made. Preservation of large outdoor cultural objects containing iron and steel for future generations involves protecting them with a coating. Protecting cultural objects usually involves controlling the temperature, relative humidity and light levels in which they are stored or displayed to minimise the rate of any degradation or corrosion reactions. However, because of their size and immobility, industrial objects are either found outdoors or indoors but without control of relative humidity, temperature or light levels. Selection of a suitable treatment to protect industrial objects from literature sources alone is a minefield.
