Rochester Institute of Technology

The Image Permanence Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology will evaluate the mechanical stability of 3D printed materials used in preservation and access activities in museum contexts. While the use of 3D printed material has increased, the mechanical and chemical stability of printed materials used in educational, exhibition, and preservation activities remains understudied. For this project, the research team will assess how 3D printed materials change in various museum contexts and environments, such as infills for object conservation, display mounts, replicas for educational use, and replacement parts in working objects. Researchers will conduct laboratory-based experiments and use-case studies to identify when 3D printing is the appropriate tool for museum activities. To share project results, the project team will offer a free online webinar and downloadable decision tree for the benefit of staff preserving archaeology, natural history, anthropology, and social history collections.