ABSTRACT Modern materials present unique challenges in terms of assessing performance and evaluating whether these materials can be repaired, restored, and conserved, or whether they need to be replaced – based on criteria including inherent significance and integrity, anticipated performance, durability, resiliency, and potential for continued use. Some specific issues encountered with modern materials include questions related to weathering, lack of redundancy, and the use of innovative but inherently non-durable materials and assemblies. The effects of material weathering (patina) may be considered desirable on handcrafted materials but is often less acceptable on highly machined materials typical of modern buildings. While the weathered appearance of traditional materials may be considered tolerable or even desirable, some modern buildings may demand frequent treatment to achieve a consistently new appearance. The inherent lack of redundancy in modern thin claddings such as thin stone veneer and resin panels, as well as glass and metal curtain wall systems, presents complex problems that were not historically of concern with traditional materials. For example, modern materials and systems are less forgiving of water leakage than traditional masonry wall construction; issues of strength loss and anchorage deterioration are of greater concern with modern thin claddings. Finally, some modern materials and systems have a limited life span and are far more demanding in terms of cyclical maintenance than traditional materials, while changes in production have rendered some materials obsolete and difficult or impossible to duplicate exactly if replacement is required. Innovative materials also present particular challenges if they have not performed well over time or contain hazardous components. However, if the materials are significant and character-defining, they will likely warrant preservation based on technical uniqueness and in order to preserve the original architectural intent. This article examines a range of modern materials and their characteristics in light of these issues and criteria, illustrated with examples from recent projects involving thin stone and resin cladding panels, glazing systems, and coatings and sealants, among others, with comparison to traditional materials where appropriate. The article also seeks to inform the development of conceptual guidelines for the assessment and repair, restoration, and conservation of modern materials.

中文翻译：

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现代材料的挑战：评估和修复

摘要 现代材料在评估性能和评估这些材料是否可以修复、恢复和保存，或是否需要更换方面提出了独特的挑战——基于包括固有意义和完整性、预期性能、耐用性、弹性和继续使用的潜力。现代材料遇到的一些具体问题包括与风化、缺乏冗余以及使用创新但本质上不耐用的材料和组件有关的问题。材料风化（古色）的影响对于手工制作的材料来说可能是理想的，但在现代建筑典型的高度机械加工的材料上通常不太可接受。虽然传统材料的风化外观可能被认为是可以容忍的，甚至是可取的，一些现代建筑可能需要经常进行处理以达到始终如一的新外观。现代薄覆层（例如薄石饰面和树脂板以及玻璃和金属幕墙系统）固有的冗余不足，带来了传统材料历史上不关心的复杂问题。例如，现代材料和系统对漏水的容忍度低于传统的砖石墙结构；强度损失和锚固劣化问题是现代薄包层更受关注的问题。最后，一些现代材料和系统的寿命有限，并且在周期性维护方面比传统材料要求更高，而生产的变化已经使某些材料过时并且在需要更换时难以或不可能完全复制。如果创新材料随着时间的推移表现不佳或包含危险成分，它们也会带来特殊的挑战。但是，如果材料具有重要意义且具有特征定义，则它们可能需要基于技术独特性并为了保留原始建筑意图而得到保护。本文根据这些问题和标准研究了一系列现代材料及其特性，并举例说明了最近的项目，涉及薄石材和树脂覆层板、玻璃系统、涂料和密封剂等，并与传统材料进行比较合适的。本文还试图为现代材料的评估和修复、修复和保护的概念指南的制定提供信息。