Oddy test results - for paints used in Museums
Oddy tests are used to determine whether paints can be used in storage and display situations in museums. The Oddy test is used routinely in many museums. In this test, a sample of material is enclosed with a coupon of cleaned metal. Corrosion is accelerated by adding water to create high humidity and by elevating temperatures (60°C). After 28 days, the extent of corrosion on the metal coupon is used to evaluate the suitability of the material under test for use in the display or storage of artefacts containing that metal.

All Resene colours/paints tested at Te Papa in 2008 passed the Oddy test and are considered suitable for use for museum displays. The following Resene colours/paints were applied to glass slides, cured for a fortnight and then tested:

View this information as a pdf. You will need Acrobat Reader.