Application of energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry for the characterization of plastic materials in synthetic polymer conservation work

Abstract

Plastic artifacts archived in museums deteriorate with time and require proper care by conservators to prevent their degradation and to maintain the objects in good condition. Degradation processes depend on the type of plastic and conditions of storage. Knowledge of the chemical composition of plastic artifacts is thus very important and facilitates conservation work. The capabilities of energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry with monochromatic excitation were investigated for possible characterization of the plastic materials used in artifacts from museum collections. For this purpose, a simple and suitable nondestructive analytical protocol was developed on the basis of the intensity of the coherent and the incoherent scattered excitation radiation from artifacts, compared with scattering from typical plastic materials such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene. Fifteen plastic artifacts, such as souvenirs, household wares, and toys, were characterized in this way according to their chemical composition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Monitoring the polyamide 11 degradation by thermal properties and X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry allied to chemometric methods

“…This rapid loss of additives in aqueous media is due mainly to an increase in solubility of the low molar mass compounds as a function of temperature. Therefore, ED‐XRF also seems efficient as an analytical methodology to additives quantification in polymeric materials …”

What Fate for Plastics in Artworks? An Overview of Their Identification and Degradative Behaviour

“…It is also worth citing a preliminary investigation by Necemer et al aiming to access the capabilities of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) with monochromatic excitation for the characterisation of the plastic materials used in artefacts from museum collections, e.g., PE, PP, PMMA, PET and PVC [ 51 ]. A nondestructive analytical protocol was developed on the basis of the intensity of the coherent and the incoherent scattered excitation radiation from artefacts, compared with scattering from reference plastic materials.…”

2013 Atomic spectrometry update—A review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

“…Restoration and conservation are hugely important topics in this area of study and Necemer et al 328 used EDXRF with monochromatic excitation to monitor the degradation of plastic artefacts in museums by comparing the intensity of the coherent and incoherent scatter radiation from artefacts with scatter from typical plastic materials such as polyethylene, PVC, and polypropylene. The results were designed to be of value to conservators in maintaining such objects in good condition.…”