From the August 11th Charleston West Virginia Gazette-Mail "South Carolina scientists trim years in conserving artifacts" by Bruce Smith, AP.
Clemson University scientists have succeeded in conserving Civil War shot and a ballast block from the Confederate submarine Hunley using a subcritical and supercritical treatment that could revolutionize the way historic artifacts are conserved. This was just a theory a decade ago.
In the subcritical process, water is put under intense heat and pressure which has unique dissolving characteristics. The item is put into a reactor vessel and salts that can cause deterioration are quickly removed.
A small supercritical reactor is at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, where the Hunley is being saved. In the supercritical process, carbon dioxide is subjected to intense heat and pressure to remove moisture and preserve cork from shipwrecks.
I'm not sure what all this is about, but to speed up conservation would be a great thing. Once we get it, I'm always clamoring to see it right away.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
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