Aside from work on advanced materials and modern production technology, IMSL is active in a number projects to examine the impact of microbiological activity on items of cultural heritage. In the past this included a study on the premature failure of thatch on historic buildings in the Netherlands due to fungal growth and the impact of severe water ingress on the fungal populations in an historic building in London, UK. A similar study was performed to assess the effect of a change in air filtration technology on the number of airborne fungal spores and their settlement on surfaces in an historic document collection in a major UK library. An investigation into an appropriate technique to prevent the deterioration of a 'living' museum display (mannequins dressed in authentic uniforms, equipment etc.), depicting conditions in an underground national defence installation during WWII,employed more convention material protection strategies to provide the protection required.
Current projects include one within the EU Framework 6 programme and is aimed at the prevention of damage to items and areas of cultural heritage by flood events by way of policy change and preventative measures (see Cultural Heritage protection against Flood - CHEF). In a second study, part of the EU Framework 7 programme, IMSL is looking at the effect of nano-particle-based remediation techniques for stone on both the removal of microbiological growth and its re-colonisation. (Stone conservation for the refurbishment of buildings - Stonecore. More information)