30 April 1998: Praxair, Inc., a leading supplier of industrial gases, through its regional company in Italy, Rivoira Spa, was chosen by the “Comitato per l“ostensione della Sindone,” (Committee for P…
30 April 1998: Praxair, Inc., a leading supplier of industrial gases, through its regional company in Italy, Rivoira Spa, was chosen by the “Comitato per l“ostensione della Sindone,” (Committee for Public Viewing of the Shroud), as the official supplier of the technology and gases that will help protect the Turin Shroud from degradation during a forthcoming exhibition. The Shroud, believed by many to be the cloth in which Jesus was buried, has been on public exhibition in Turin since 18 April 1998. It is estimated that between 3 million and 4 million visitors will be flocking to the site to see the famous relic. To adequately protect the Shroud from degradation during the exhibition, Rivoira produced a special gas mixture which was developed with Gruppo Bodino, maker of the official glass case in which the Shroud is stored. The argon-based speciality gas mixture (an inert, non-flammable gas), prepared by Rivoira, will protect the Shroud against oxidation, humidity, flammability and bacterial growth. The atmosphere inside the glass case will be continuously monitored at several points, using Rivoira“s monitoring system. The computer-based system is connected to a Rivoira plant in order to verify oxygen, moisture content, temperature and pressure. The technology allows for quick reaction if the environment inside the case changes.