Probing the Factors That Control Degradation in Museum Collections of Cellulose Acetate Artefacts

Ballany, Jane M.; Littlejohn, David; Pethrick, R P; Quye, Anita

doi:10.1021/bk-2001-0779.ch012

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…218 As a result of such deterioration, not only unsafe plasticizers and plasticizer reaction products are released to the environment, but materials developed from cellulose ester became prone to cracking, warping, discoloration, exudation, shrinkage and powdering as they age. 224 To mitigate these safety issues in addition to awareness of green technology and government legislations, several mitigation efforts are being conducted. These efforts include the development of safe, more stable and more compatible, biobased, and functional plasticizers.…”

Section: Cellulose Acetatementioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Mekonnen

Mussone

Khalil³

et al. 2013

J. Mater. Chem. A

667

423

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Over the coming few decades bioplastic materials are expected to complement and gradually replace some of the fossil oil based materials. Multidisciplinary research efforts have generated a significant level of technical and commercial success towards these bio-based materials. However, extensive application of these bio-based plastics is still challenged by one or more of their possible inherent limitations, such as poor processability, brittleness, hydrophilicity, poor moisture and gas barrier, inferior compatibility, poor electrical, thermal and physical properties. The incorporation of additives such as plasticizers into the biopolymers is a common practice to improve these inherent limitations. Generally, plasticizers are added to both synthetic and bio-based polymeric materials to impart flexibility, improve toughness, and lower the glass transition temperature. This review introduces the most common bio-based plastics and provides an overview of recent advances in the selection and use of plasticizers, and their effect on the performance of these materials. In addition to plasticizers, we also present a perspective of other emerging techniques of improving the overall performance of bio-based plastics. Although a wide variety of bio-based plastics are under development, this review focuses on plasticizers utilized for the most extensively studied bioplastics including poly(lactic acid), polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starch, proteinaceous plastics and cellulose acetates. The ongoing challenge and future potentials of plasticizers for bio-based plastics are also discussed.

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Section: Cellulose Acetatementioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Mekonnen

Mussone

Khalil³

et al. 2013

J. Mater. Chem. A

667

423

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“…Plasticizers are an important component of heat-molded cellulose ester plastics because the softening temperature lies close to the decomposition temperature . The most common plasticizers for cellulose ester plastics are diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and triphenyl phosphate, but a wide variety of other plasticizers and additives have also been used (Figure ). , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The final important degradation process is chain scission, whereby the polymer chain length is reduced, thereby weakening the material and leading to embrittlement. Ultimately, as a result of these deterioration processes, cellulose ester objects become prone to cracking, warping, discoloration, exudation, shrinkage, and powdering as they age …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Chemical and Thermal Analysis Methods for Studying Cellulose Ester Plastics

et al. 2010

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Cellulose acetate, developed about 100 years ago as a versatile, semisynthetic plastic material, is used in a variety of applications and is perhaps best known as the basis of photographic film stock. Objects made wholly or partly from cellulose acetate are an important part of modern and contemporary cultural heritage, particularly in museum collections. Given the potential instability of the material, however, it is imperative to understand the aging mechanisms and deterioration pathways of cellulose ester plastics to mitigate decomposition and formulate guidelines for storage, exhibition, and conservation. One important aspect of this process is the ability to fully characterize the plastic, because variations in composition affect its aging properties and ultimate stability. In this Account, we assess the potential of a range of analytical techniques for plastics made from cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, and cellulose butyrate. Comprehensive characterization of cellulose ester plastics is best achieved by applying several complementary analytical techniques. Fourier-transform IR (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy provide rapid means for basic characterization of plastic objects, which can be useful for quick, noninvasive screening of museum collections with portable instruments. Pyrolysis GC/MS is capable of differentiating the main types of cellulose ester polymers but also permits a richly detailed compositional analysis of additives. Thermal analysis techniques provide a wealth of compositional information and thermal behavior. Thermogravimetry (TG) allows for quantitative analysis of thermally stable volatile additives, and weight-difference curves offer a novel means for assessing oxidative stability. The mechanical response to temperature, such as the glass transition, can be measured with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), but results from other thermal analysis techniques such as TG, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic load thermomechanical analysis (DLTMA) are often required to more accurately interpret the results. The analytical results from this study form the basis for in-depth studies of works of art fabricated from cellulose acetate. These objects, which are particularly at risk when stored in tightly sealed containers (as is often the case with photographic film), warrant particular attention for conservation given their susceptibility toward sudden onset of deterioration.

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“…Another contributing factor to the deterioration is migration of plasticizer, the presence of white crystals on the surface of the substrate are observed when the plasticizer moves towards the substrate [11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Treatment of Microbubble Disease of 20th Century Cellulose Acetate Microfilm: Application of Ethyecellulose and Microrepair Method 

Jia

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Microbubble disease observed in cellulose acetate microfilm was accompanied by the production of vinegar syndrome, which has a negative influence on the integrity of image. In the present study, cellulose acetate microfilm with microbubble disease from the Republic of China (AD 1912-1949) collected in the Second Historical Archives of China was chosen as a prototype to investigate its treatment methods. A combination of optical microscopy and a stainless-steel needle was used to remove plasticizer exudation within microbubbles. The plasticizer was effectively removed by infiltrating butan-1-ol into the microbubble from a small hole made by the stainless-steel needle. The SEM and laser confocal microscopy were used to study the morphology and roughness of the internal surface of microbubble. It was found that the blurry image could be attributed to the light scattering from the rough surface. Based on the advantages of ethyl cellulose in conservation science, the optimal concentration of ethyl cellulose was selected and used to fill the interior of the microbubble to obtain a clearer image. To determine the protective potential of this filling material, the chemical and mechanical properties of coated film after dry heat, hygrothermal and UV accelerated ageing were measured. Based on the above-mentioned results, it is encouraging that a new microrepair method and its corresponding method are offered in film treatment work.

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Probing the Factors That Control Degradation in Museum Collections of Cellulose Acetate Artefacts

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Application of Chemical and Thermal Analysis Methods for Studying Cellulose Ester Plastics

The Treatment of Microbubble Disease of 20th Century Cellulose Acetate Microfilm: Application of Ethyecellulose and Microrepair Method

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Probing the Factors That Control Degradation in Museum Collections of Cellulose Acetate Artefacts

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications

Application of Chemical and Thermal Analysis Methods for Studying Cellulose Ester Plastics

The Treatment of Microbubble Disease of 20th Century Cellulose Acetate Microfilm: Application of Ethyecellulose and Microrepair Method&nbsp;

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The Treatment of Microbubble Disease of 20th Century Cellulose Acetate Microfilm: Application of Ethyecellulose and Microrepair Method