Layering Research Articles

The Effect of Bone Glue on the Performance of Traditional Painted Furniture Ground Layers

This research investigates how the inclusion of bone glue affects the performance of traditional painted furniture ground layers, particularly under dry–wet cycling conditions. The ground layers, applied to wood substrates in seven different ratios of bone glue to gypsum powder (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%), were tested for mass changes, dimensional stability, adhesion, and surface roughness. The results showed that higher bone glue content (especially 50% and 60%) led to improved stability, reduced mass fluctuations, and better dimensional stability. The 50% bone glue sample exhibited the best overall stability with minimal weight change (<1.6%) and reduced shrinkage. Adhesion strength increased with bone glue content, reaching 3.48 MPa at 60% bone glue. Lower bone glue content resulted in poor adhesion and visible defects such as cracking and blistering. SEM analysis confirmed that higher bone glue content enhanced bonding between the ground layer and the wood substrate.

On the structure of temperature pulsations near the surface under convective conditions

Measurements of temperature pulsations under conditions of summer hot weather in the near-surface air layer in a deserted area were carried out using wire sensors distributed spatially and in height with a recording frequency of 1000 Hz. For the power spectra, slopes with values from “–1” to “–1.35” (scale: 0.2–2 m) are noted for frequencies below the “–5/3” inertial interval region. At frequencies above the inertial interval (scales: 0.01-0.1 m), slopes range from “–4.2” to “–5.8”. In some episodes at frequencies less than 0.1–0.3 Hz, slopes from “–0.2” to “–0.85” are observed. Based on the equations of motion in the Boussinesq approximation, we obtained estimates for the observed slopes of the spectra: “–1”, “–4/3”, and “–7/3”, characteristic of a thermally stratified medium. Using a qualitative (visual) method at different signal averaging times (1, 10, 200 s), the occurrence of thermoconvective structures of “ramps” with a temporal length of 0.3–1 s was revealed, which constitute ramps with a length of 1–10 s at larger averaging.

Assessing the effectiveness of cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof assembly moisture control and mitigation strategies: A field laboratory

Exposure to moisture and wetting is a concern in mass timber construction and service. Understanding the moisture conditions and the drying response of mass timber during construction and service can impact durability of the building material and occupant health because of the potential for biological degradation and mould growth, respectively. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) used in roof assemblies is particularly susceptible to high moisture loading from exposure to driving rain and extended periods of ponding and water retention on roofs during construction. The field research conducted in this study utilises a purpose-built CLT test facility in Toronto, ON to test and assess the impact of three specific moisture control strategies towards both mitigating moisture and increasing the dry-out rate of CLT used in roof assemblies. The moisture control strategies tested were: (1) the integration of an air cavity directly above the CLT within the roof assembly, (2) the protection of CLT during exposure and moisture loading periods on site, and (3) the permeability of membranes installed in the roof assembly and during site exposure. The CLT roof panels underwent four months of exposure to exterior environmental conditions followed by two months of bulk water inundation at the CLT test facility site immediately prior to installation and enclosure. Moisture content was monitored at evenly distributed depths in the CLT panels throughout exposure and inundation periods and for one year of simulated service conditions, post-enclosure. Comparative analysis of the moisture control strategies tested during this field laboratory demonstrate that the presence of an air layer above the CLT in the roof assembly consistently doubled the dry-out rate compared to the assemblies without an air cavity. The results also found that unprotected CLT panels took approximately 2.5 times longer to dry-out to below 15 % MC than protected panels and finally, that in comparing the results of using impermeable vs. permeable air/vapour barrier membranes on the surface of exposed CLT, that the impermeable membrane slowed the dry-out rate of wetted CLT by approximately 20 %. The results of this research support the implementation of specific moisture mitigation and control strategies during design and construction towards promoting rapid dry-out of CLT in roof assemblies in service.

A general analogy mass-spring system analytical model for sound reduction of side-branch resonators.

This study introduces a general analytical model designed to predict the sound reduction frequency of side-branch resonators, regardless of their geometric shapes. Grounded in a continuous analogy mass-spring system, we conceptualize the air within the branch cavity of the resonator as a series of infinitesimal continuous air layers. Each air layer is represented as a mass-spring unit, influenced by the pressure distribution inside the branch cavity. These mass-spring units, following mass conservation principles, are systematically transformed into planar configurations and stacked in a singular direction. These stacked mass-spring units are then converted into an effective one-dimensional mass-spring. Standing wave and the conservation of energy are employed to determine the natural frequency of the effective one-dimensional mass-spring, which corresponds to the sound reduction frequency of the side-branch resonator. This analytical model offers precise predictions for the sound reduction frequencies of side-branch resonators, regardless of their geometric variations. The analytical model can help designers design side-branch resonators in various shapes that accurately target specific sound reduction frequencies in real-world applications. Our analytical model's predictions for sound reduction frequencies were benchmarked against simulations from COMSOL 5.4. The comparative analysis demonstrates the adaptability of the proposed analogy mass-spring system model to side-branch resonators of varied geometric designs. Furthermore, the model exhibits both high predictive accuracy and robustness. Further details and examples will be elaborated upon subsequently.

Непараметрическая оценка прогностической точности моделей на примере временны́х рядов концентраций метана в атмосферном воздухе арк­тического острова Белый

Over the past few decades, the number, variety, and complexity of time series forecasting models have grown. There has also been an increased interest among researchers in comparing and assessing the predictive accuracy and performance of models, and in determining which models are more accurate. The researchers propose using the hypothesis testing approach to assess the performance of a time series forecast model. They obtained data for the study while monitoring the dynamics of ground-level concentrations of the main greenhouse gases on the Arctic Island of Bely, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, Russia. A total of three models based on autoregressive neural networks with exogenous input (NARX) were considered to predict changes in methane concentration in the surface layer of atmospheric air. The performance of the models was assessed using 8 “traditional” indices (correlation and determination coefficients, Wilmott goodness-of-fit indices, mean absolute error, relative mean square error, etc.) and the proposed permutational approach using the hypothesis testing method. In general, based on the data under study, the estimates of the permutation approach and other indicators of accuracy and error coincide, but there are discrepancies. Effect sizes do not always determine the statistical significance of differences.

A numerical investigation of wake recovery for an H- and X-shaped vertical-axis wind turbine with wake control strategies

Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), particularly in offshore wind farms, are gaining attention for their capacity to potentially enhance wake recovery and increase the power density of wind farms. Previous research on VAWT wake control strategies have demonstrated that the pitch offset is favorable for VAWT wake recovery. In the present study, an investigation on the wake recovery and its mechanisms for an H-Rotor and a novel X-Rotor VAWTs with fixed blade pitch offsets is conducted through qualitative and quantitative methods. The actuator line method is utilized in this study. Results indicate that the two rotors produce distinct vortex systems that drive the wake recovery process—which is augmented with pitch offsets. Through quantitative studies, the contribution of wake recovery due to advection increases dramatically with pitch offsets in the near wake. With pitch offsets, the inline available power increases up to 2.3 times for the rotors when compared to when there is no pitch offset. The mean kinetic energy flux occurs mostly above and below the rotors as well as the windward side, suggesting the mechanism of power replenishment for these rotors with pitch offsets. These results encourage further research into the effectiveness of wake recovery in the wind-farm level with the ground and atmospheric boundary layer influences.

Research of the operating modes of a combined drip irrigation system with aerosol irrigation for cultivating a cherry orchard

Relevance. Irrigation of agricultural crops plays a key role not only in increasing the yield of these crops, but also in preserving it, especially under stressful temperature conditions. One of the effective methods of water conservation during irrigation is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation technology allows you to accurately dose water, taking into account the needs of specific crops and maintaining an optimal level of soil moisture. It is important to note that this technology helps save water and reduce the risk of soil overmoistening. In addition to drip irrigation, there is also aerosol irrigation. This irrigation technology allows more efficient use of water resources and provides optimal conditions for the ground air layer for the growth and development of plants under stressful temperature conditions.Methods. The objectives of the study are to study the technologies and technical means of irrigation of a young cherry orchard to maintain optimal modes through the use of drip irrigation with aerosol irrigation in the Central part of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia. During the research, two factors were analyzed: studying the impact of various irrigation methods and moistening volumes on the formation of trees of the Gostinets and Zhukovskaya varieties of sweet cherry.Results. The field experiment is conducted on the territory of «Kolomenskaya Yagoda» LLC in the Moscow Region. The conducted studies have shown that the selected irrigation method using a combined irrigation system on sod-podzolic soils in the central part of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia for growing a young cherry orchard of the Gostinets and Zhukovskaya cherry varieties meets the criteria of environmental safety and economic efficiency.Conclusion. From the point of view of profitability, it is most effective to grow a young cherry orchard by maintaining humidity in the root zone of the soil within 80-100% of the lowest moisture capacity and relative humidity of the ground air layer in the range of 55-70%.

Full-scale experimental study on the smoke descent and stratification in a two-storey building with varying ventilation conditions

This paper presents a full-scale experimental research on the smoke descent and stratification in a two-storey residential building under the coupling influences of vertical connection channels and ventilation conditions. The two floors were connected by one atrium and one stair, and the fire source was located on the second floor. Wood crib and gasoline were selected as representative fuels to reflect typical residential fire scenarios, with heat release rates of 82kW and 140kW, respectively. The states of the building openings were varied to simulate different ventilation conditions. Results showed that the smoke tended to spread in the ridge direction due to the structural limitations of slope roofs. The temperature distribution in both the ridge and slope directions was obtained. A special “three-zone” smoke stratification structure including upper smoke layer, intermediate air layer and lower smoke layer is observed, which is significantly different from the well-known “two-zone” model. The “three-zone” stratification resulted in a nonmonotonic vertical temperature distribution in the atrium. The lower smoke layer thickness Zl,g was found to be greatly affected by ventilation conditions. Based on the boundary layer theories and the law of energy conservation, a series of expressions were established to calculate Zl,g and intermediate air layer thickness δw, which are the key parameters of the “three-zone” stratification. The theoretical calculations matched the experimental data well and explained the sharp trends of δw and Zl,g under different ventilation conditions. This study can provide theoretical guidance about fire detection, smoke exhaust and people evacuation in residential buildings.

Investigation of the influence of the air layer on the phase change material melting process inside a hemicylindrical enclosure: A numerical approach

The rapid growth in energy consumption and the associated difficulties have made thermal energy storage processes using phase change materials (PCMs) a prominent subject of study and development in the last century. The exceptional thermo-dynamic characteristics of this material enable it to accumulate substantial quantities of heat within very limited spaces. The present work involved a numerical investigation of the impact of the air layer on the melting time of paraffin wax RT42 (PCM) within an enclosure with a hemicylinder shape. The enthalpy-porosity relationship is analyzed numerically using ANSYS/FLUENT 16 software. The study included three distinct scenarios that examined the thermal and mass characteristics of paraffin wax within a hemicylindrical enclosure, with the curving wall of the enclosure being thermally insulated. The initial scenario lacked any air layer on the heated vertical wall, whereas the subsequent scenario had an air layer measuring 1 mm thick on the same wall. The third scenario contained an air layer measuring 2 mm within the same wall. The findings indicated that including a 1 mm thick air layer would result in a 125% extended complete melting time of paraffin wax. Similarly, including a 2 mm thick air layer would lead to a 225% rise in the complete melting time of paraffin wax. The presented outcome demonstrates the impact of ambient air on thermal storage units during the charging procedure.

Underwater Drag Reduction Failure of Superhydrophobic Surface Caused by Adhering Spherical Air Bubbles

Underwater drag reduction using superhydrophobic surfaces is a promising method due to its simplicity and low energy consumption. However, most attempts to obtain drag reduction using superhydrophobic surfaces have failed. Explanations such as air layer or air bubble vanishment and surface roughness are proposed in the existing works. In this work, the drag increase caused by spherical air bubbles adhering to the superhydrophobic surface is reported, and the drag increase mechanism is revealed by numerical simulation. In the water tunnel and towing tank experiment, we found that the experimental samples exhibited drag increase around a specific velocity, and the recorded optical images showed that the superhydrophobic surfaces were adhered by spherical air bubbles. Through numerical simulation, we found that the spherical air bubbles not only reduced the frictional drag but also introduced pressure drag. The drag increase was produced when the introduced pressure drag exceeded the reduced frictional drag. This work might be helpful for the drag reduction application of the superhydrophobic surface.

Energy-Efficient Adaptive Dynamic Building Facades: A Review of Their Energy Efficiency and Operating Loads

Energy-efficient, adaptive, affordable and durable curtain wall systems have always attracted great interest among the scientific and technical communities. In this regard, the purpose of this work was to conduct a comprehensive review of the issues related to energy-efficient adaptive dynamic facades, taking into account their operating loads, revealing the diversity of the studies conducted in this area. The review of the literature was carried out in three stages. For all stages, the review period was 2001–2024. In the first stage, a review of traditional curtain facade systems was conducted, which emphasized the relevance of this area, identifying a total of 4338 sources. In the second stage, a review of specific issues, such as adaptive dynamic facade systems, yielded 2838 sources, from which the 87 most suitable sources were selected. In the third stage, a review focusing on the issue of operating loads yielded 741 works, from which 43 suitable sources were selected. At the same time, pie charts reflecting the most active international scientific journals were compiled for each area. The conducted review of energy-efficient adaptive dynamic building facades, taking into account their operating loads, could provide significant assistance in further research on the specified issues. As researchers mainly focus on environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness, they often neglect issues such as the systems’ resistance to operating loads, which represents a serious deficiency. In this regard, this review identified a gap in the research on the development of energy-efficient facades with an air layer; on this basis, the further development of adaptive facade systems is required. The review of the selected studies also showed that issues related to energy efficiency and sustainability, taking into account operational loads, have not been addressed in combination; rather, they have only been addressed individually. At the same time, this review shows that the proposed development of an adaptive system of external fencing could be relevant, both nationally and internationally, depending on the natural and climatic conditions of the territory for which the buildings are designed.

Electrostatic MEMS Two-Dimensional Scanning Micromirrors Integrated with Piezoresistive Sensors

The MEMS scanning micromirror requires angle sensors to provide real-time angle feedback during operation, ensuring a stable and accurate deflection of the micromirror. This paper proposes a method for integrating piezoresistive sensors on the torsion axis of electrostatic MEMS micromirrors to detect the deflection angle. The design uses a multi-layer bonding process to realize a vertical comb-driven structure. The device structure is designed as a double-layer structure, in which the top layer is the ground layer and integrates with piezoresistive sensor. This approach avoids crosstalk between the applied drive voltage and the piezoresistive sensor. This design also optimizes the sensor’s size, improving sensitivity. A MEMS two-dimensional (2D) scanning micromirror with a 1 mm mirror diameter was designed and fabricated. The test results indicated that, in a vacuum environment, the torsional resonance frequencies of the micromirror’s fast axis and slow axis were 17.68 kHz and 2.225 kHz, respectively. When driving voltages of 33 V and 40 V were applied to the fast axis and slow axis of the micromirror, the corresponding optical scanning angles were 55° and 45°, respectively. The piezoresistive sensor effectively detects the micromirror’s deflection state, and optimizing the sensor’s size achieved a sensitivity of 13.87 mV/V/°. The output voltage of the piezoresistive sensor shows a good linear relationship with the micromirror’s deflection angle, enabling closed-loop feedback control of the electrostatic MEMS micromirror.

Lubrication-mediated rebounds off fluid baths

We present herein the derivation of a lubrication-mediated (LM) quasi-potential model for droplet rebounds off deep liquid baths, assuming the presence of a persistent dynamic air layer which acts as a lubricating pressure transfer. We then present numerical simulations of the LM model for axisymmetric rebounds of solid spheres and compare quantitatively to current results in the literature, including experimental data in the low-speed impact regime. In this regime the LM model has the advantage of being far more computationally tractable than direct numerical simulation (DNS) and is also able to provide detailed behaviour within the micro-metric thin lubrication region. The LM system has an interesting mathematical structure, with the lubrication layer providing a free-boundary elliptic problem mediating the drop and bath free-boundary evolutionary equations.

Wavefront sensing based on large guide region in solar ground layer adaptive optics

In ground-based high-resolution solar observation, ground-layer adaptive optics (GLAO) offers a significant advancement by compensating for wavefront aberrations caused by near-ground atmospheric turbulence. GLAO overcomes the field-of-view limitations of conventional adaptive optics (AO), which is constrained by turbulence anisoplanatism. In conventional solar AO, wavefront sensing requires correlation calculations across an extended guide region to extract wavefront information. However, the cross correlation algorithm with a larger guide region size smooths the wavefront distortions caused by high-altitude turbulence, reducing the accuracy of single-line wavefront detection. This effect is particularly pronounced in GLAO systems that utilize large guide regions for ground layer wavefront sensing. This paper proposed a theoretical model for GLAO wavefront sensing using correlating Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors targeting extended objects. We quantitatively analyze the impact of the guide region size on wavefront detection accuracy and validate our findings through simulation experiments. Simulation results indicate that for a 1-meter telescope, the difference between the root mean square (RMS) of detected aberrations differs from the RMS of ground-layer aberrations by less than 1/30 wavelength when using the CP7 model at 60" and the MK8 model at 140". Results also indicate that increasing the guide region effectively enables the detection of ground-layer wavefront aberrations. This finding not only provides valuable guidance for achieving accurate ground-layer wavefront sensing in GLAO systems, but also offers what we believe to be new solutions for optimizing GLAO system performance.

Identification of laccol as a paint binder in Neolithic pottery from China

Some precious painted pottery have been excavated from a late Neolithic site (6000-5300 BP) in China recently. The materials and technique of the paint were comprehensively studied. The analytical techniques conducted include optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis-methylation pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (THM-Py-GC/MS). The results revealed the painted pottery is lacquer-painted pottery, which is the earliest evidence of using laccol as binding media to paint pottery. Moreover, a two-layer structure of the paint technique was found. Cinnabar and a kind of yellow dye were detected in the first layer, while iron red was determined in the ground layer. Laccol, instead of urushiol as a binding medium, was identified in both two layers. Laccol is the maker compound from the tree of Toxicodendron (Rhus) succedanea, which mainly grows in Vietnam. Its presence in the painted pottery represents that the use of Toxicodendron (Rhus) succedanea resource can be as early as the late Neolithic period in China. The possibility of the origin of laccol was also discussed in the paper.

Solar energy harvester based on polarization insensitive and wide angle stable UWB absorber for UV, visible and IR frequency range

This paper proposes an ultrawideband electromagnetic absorber operating in the infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet regime. The overall structure of the proposed absorber is made up of multiple square rings arranged in a symmetrical configuration. The absorber consists of three layers, the ground layer made of nickel, the intermediate substrate layer is made of polyimide and the top layer is constructed from nickel. The overall unit cell dimension of 119 nm × 119 nm × 31 nm has been proposed for the optimum performance of the absorber. It has absorption (A) of more than 90 % for the frequency range of 131.59 THz to more than 4500 THz. The proposed absorber is polarization-independent. The absorber shows more than 70 % absorption for incident angle<65° in both transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes. The absorber covers the range of infrared, visible, and ultraviolet frequencies. Using this proposed absorber, high solar absorption efficiency (ηA) of 96.84 % and high thermal emission efficiency (ηE) of 90.19 %, 92.54 %, 95 % and 96.64 % are achieved at 1000K, 1500K, and 2500K & 3500 K, respectively. Due to the ultrawideband characteristic of the proposed design in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regimes, the proposed design can be used as a highly efficient absorber in many applications such as photovoltaics, photo-detectors, thermal emitters, IR (Infrared) detectors, cloaking, solar energy harvesting, sensing, and UV (Ultra-Violet) protection.

An Investigation into the Effects of Varying Seasons, Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) and Rooting Media on the Rooting and Longevity of Air-layered Water Apples (Syzygium samarangense L.)

Background: The variation observed in sexual propagation often results in slow growth and fruit development, attributed partly to insufficient photosynthates during early growth stages. To address this challenge, vegetative propagation methods such as air layering offer promising solutions. This technique not only accelerates productivity but also enhances the quality of water apples. Recognizing the importance of air layering in water apple cultivation, this experiment was conducted to standardize this technique by examining the impact of different seasons and planting media in the western tropical wet and dry climate of Tamil Nadu. Methods: The study was conducted to evaluate the variables affecting air layering in water apples in Coimbatore district. The experiment was carried out with three different factors like seasons [August (S1), September (S2) and October (S3)] and IBA [applied at different concentrations of 2000 mg/L (I1), 3000 mg/L (I2) and 4000 mg/L (I3)] along with different rooting media: Cocopeat (M1) and Sphagnum moss (M2). The factorial randomized complete block design (FRCBD) was laid out for statistical analysis. Result: Sphagnum moss performed as a better rooting medium due to its high water holding capacity and good aeration. Increase in the number and early formation of roots were due to more rain fall and high relative humidity in August, that resulted in more nutrient uptake and structural stability. The discovery aids in determining the optimal conditions, including season, dosage and combination (4000 mg/L IBA with sphagnum moss applied in August), for successful air layering in water apple.

Experimental study of dynamic PCM integration in building walls for enhanced thermal performance in summer conditions

Passively integrating phase change material into the walls to enhance the thermal performance of the building has been a promising solution in recent years. As the PCM has a high latent heat capacity, it leads to damping the high variations of temperature and provides an obvious benefit in energy saving and indoor comfort. However, the traditional passive integration method of the PCM limited the utilization of the PCM. The thermal resistance between the PCM and the indoors restrains the thermal response of the PCM, and it between the PCM and the outdoors reduces the impact of outdoor heating or cooling on the PCM. In this study, a dynamic PCM integration in the building envelope method was proposed and experimentally investigated. A PCM layer and an air layer were combined to be integrated into the wall assembly, which allows the position of the PCM layer and the air layer could be changed to adjust the thermal resistance (air layer) between the PCM and indoors and outdoors. The results showed that this dynamic method can dramatically reduce the indoor temperature and the heat flux across the interior surface of the wall. Compared to the envelope with only static PCM layer configurations, the dynamic PCM provided a reduction of 9.1 % in the indoor average temperature and a reduction of 116.0 % in the peak heat flux during the experiment's three days, as well as the dynamic PCM, exploited more latent heat than the other static configurations. Considering the energy performance, the dynamic integration of PCM showed a 100 % reduction in heat gain through the interior surface compared to the envelope with only a static PCM layer under summer conditions.

Superhydrophobicity With Self-Adaptive Water Pressure Resistance and Adhesion of Pistia Stratiotes Leaf.

Superhydrophobic surfaces are promising for optimizing amphibious aircraft by minimizing water drag and adhesion. Achieving this involves ensuring these surfaces can resist high liquid pressure caused by deep water and fluid flow. Maximizing the solid-liquid contact area is a common strategy to improve liquid pressure resistance. However, this approach inevitably increases solid-liquid adhesion, making it challenging to guarantee a trade-off between the two wetting characteristics. Here, it is found that the Pistia stratiotes leaf exhibits superhydrophobicity with high water pressure resistance and low adhesion, attributed to its self-adaptive deformable microstructure with unique re-entrant features. Under pressure, these microstructures deform to increase the solid-liquid contact area, thereby enhancing water pressure resistance. The re-entrant features elevate the deformation threshold, enabling higher modulus microstructures to achieve adaptive response. This facilitates the recovery of deformed microstructures, restoring the air layer and maintaining low adhesion. Following these concepts, Pistia stratiotes leaf-inspired surfaces are fabricated, achieving an 183% improvement in water impact resistance and an ≈80% reduction in adhesion after overpressure compared to conventional superhydrophobic surfaces. The design principles inspired by Pistia stratiotes promise significant advancements in amphibious aircraft and other trans-media vehicles.

Layers and Layers: Analysis and Treatment of Egyptian Cartonnage at the Penn Museum

ABSTRACT Egyptian cartonnage is a complex material, creating challenges around analysis, treatment, display, and storage. It consists of layers of linen and/or papyrus, followed by a ground layer, then paint, each with its own conservation challenges. This paper provides information on a little published material through presentation of analysis and treatment methods. A group of cartonnage objects were examined and treated at the Penn Museum. This paper will explain the analytical methods employed to identify materials and examine observed deterioration. These objects would have originally covered the body of a deceased individual. All the pieces presented here have been separated from the individuals they belonged to, which has caused some of the observed deterioration, as well as subsequent improper storage. Preferential deterioration of certain paints has also been observed. The prevalence of each condition issue and how it may relate to manufacture and treatment/handling history will be discussed. Preliminary pigment characterization was conducted using portable X-ray fluorescence, multimodal photography, digital microscopy, and reflectance transformation imaging. This included the possible discovery of tin leaf on a small selection of masks, a material which has not previously been identified on objects from ancient Egypt.