Methodology

The exposure of materials is performed in an international network of test sites covering a wide geographical zone located in countries that are Signatories of the Convention. Two types of exposures are performed, long-term exposures for evaluation of dose/response functions and repeated 1-year exposures for evaluation of trend effects, so called “trend exposures”. The evaluation of dose/response relationships and trend effects is performed by statistical analysis of data on corrosion of materials and measurements of the environment taking into account physical and chemical considerations from the state of the art on materials degradation. A more detailed description of the methodology is found in

Report 58 Technical manual for the trend exposure programme 2008-2009 

Report 51 Technical manual for the trend exposure programme 2005-2006

 

 

Test sites

The original network, used for the first long-term exposure during the period 1987-1995, consisted of 39 exposure sites in 12 European countries and in the United States and Canada. In connection with the start of the multi-pollutant exposure in 1997 the network was revised and has continued to be revised since then in connection with each trend exposure.

 

List of test sites

 

 

Materials

Materials have been selected that are representative both for technical materials and materials used in objects of cultural heritage. A wide range of materials have been exposed including metallic materials, stone materials, paint coatings, electric contact materials, glass materials and polymeric materials. The evaluation of corrosion effects on materials is done by standardised or well-established procedures. Also, evaluation of corrosion effects on materials is performed at dedicated sub-centres, each responsible for a material, or group of materials, and for performing all corrosion analyses of this material regardless of where it was exposed

 

List of materials

 

 

Environmental parameters

The measurements include a wide range of pollutant, precipitation and climate parameters. These are all measured at or nearby each test site. The parameters are divided into mandatory and optional parameters.

 

List of environmental parameters