Colorimetric evaluation of 3D printing polymers exposed to accelerated aging for Cultural Heritage applications

3D printing has become a widespread technology that allows the creation of physical objects from different materials. The conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage field has recently introduced this technology as a complement to its traditional methods. However, the main concern in the application of 3D printing in this context is the long-term behavior of the materials used. The key objective of this research was the identification of the suitability of 3D printing filaments for conservation purposes. The methodology followed in this study consisted of a selection of 13 3D printing filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technologies, which were tested and exposed to an accelerated aging procedure. In order to classify and recommend the materials that present better results, the properties of color, the glossiness, the pH and the Volatile Organic Compounds emission were investigated. This paper collects the results of the analyses carried out, focusing discussion on the colorimetric behavior. The results demonstrate the usefulness of some of the materials studied, highlighting the performance of EP as one of the most stable and reliable materials while Flex is one of the most changeable ones in the Cultural Heritage context. Even though this research provides an overview of the aging of the materials studied, further analyses should be performed to understand the chemical composition and its behavior when exposed to a long-lasting aging process.