Fused Filament Fabrication and Computer Numerical Control Milling in Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Conservation Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Cultural heritage conservation often requires replicating damaged or missing components.
• Traditional methods like CNC milling and modern techniques like FFF offer potential solutions for artifact reproduction.
• Evaluating material performance and process efficiency is crucial for selecting appropriate conservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the advantages and disadvantages of FFF and CNC milling for cultural heritage conservation.
• To assess the durability and suitability of European pine wood (for CNC) and PETG (for FFF) in replicating historical components.
• To determine the most effective and efficient fabrication method for the conservation of a 17th-century tabernacle column.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of European pine wood and PETG using FTIR, XRD, DSC, contact angle, colorimetry, and bending tests.
• Artificial aging of materials to evaluate their long-term durability and performance.
• Comparative analysis of FFF and CNC milling processes in terms of speed, cost, and waste generation for artifact reproduction.

Main Results:

• Both aged wood and PETG showed decreased crystallinity and mechanical performance, but PETG exhibited less degradation.
• PETG maintained superior water-repellent and colorimetric properties post-aging compared to wood.
• CNC milling was faster but significantly more expensive and wasteful than FFF for the specific column replication.

Conclusions:

• FFF using PETG is a more suitable and sustainable method for replicating the 17th-century tabernacle column compared to CNC milling with wood.
• The material properties and process economics favor FFF for this specific cultural heritage conservation application.
• The 3D-printed PETG column was successfully used in the subsequent conservative restoration.