Composition of the white precipitate formed on the surface of damaged triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films

Abstract

To achieve a better understanding of the “vinegar syndrome” phenomenon, which has caused serious damage to triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films, the white powder obtained from damaged film surfaces was analysed in this study. The powder was found to be soluble in acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide, and chloroform, but insoluble in water. From the results of 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray fluorescence measurements, it was concluded that the white precipitate had a molecular weight of 326 amu and was composed of triphenyl phosphate (C18H15O4P).

Exploring the Materials and Condition of 20th-Century Dolls in Zoe Leonard’s Mouth Open, Teeth Showing 2000

“…This may be expected since DEP is volatile whilst TPP is solid at room temperature [ 49 ]. Similar crystalline efflorescence consisting of TPP has been identified on 20th-century CA toy soldiers [ 50 ] and CA film [ 51 ] and in CA industrial products including Rhodoid™, which were used by constructivist sculptors such as Naum Gabo, László Moholy-Nagy and Antoine Pevsner [ 52 , 53 ].…”

Water sorption and diffusion in cellulose acetate: The effect of plasticisers

“…While the ATR-FTIR analysis suggests an increase of the plasticiser concentration, the 1 H NMR analysis shows a reduction of the plasticiser concentration (Figure 3b). The increase of the signal from the ATR-FTIR analysis might be caused by the migration of triphenyl phosphate to the surface during ageing (Macro, 2019;Takahashi et al, 2021) as this is a technique for surface analysis, while 1 H NMR spectroscopic analysis measures the plasticiser concentration throughout the bulk of the sample.…”