Mobile irradiator and its application in the preservation of the objects of art

The ionizing radiation is used as an efficient agent for preservation of wooden objects of cultural or historical value attacked by wood-destroying insect or fungi. Many objects are not in a state to be transportable to the radiation laboratory and the idea appears to arrange the irradiation in situ. In this communication a project of a transportable mobile irradiation robot is described. The irradiator with about 6 kCi 137Cs moves automatically according to a precalculated programme on the gridwork situated in front of the object. The optimum dose homogeneity and the achievement of the required dose in the whole object is claimed. The problems of radiation safety during the irradiation are discussed. A few preliminary results on the effect of radiation on wood destroying fungi are presented. (author)