The History Deterioration And Conservation Of Cellulose Nitrate And Their Early Plastic Objects PDF Download

The purpose of this project is to inform general collections personnel working with historical museums, historical society and historic house collections in the United States about proper storage procedures to promote the longevity of plastic artifacts as well as protect them from inevitable degradation. I have chosen to focus on cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, and polyurethane foam because they are among the most fragile plastics in museum collections. Taking the form of jewelry, eyeglasses, dental plates, and other personal effects, plastic has become as ubiquitous to our popular cultural history as television. However, the museum community has only recently discovered the need for its care. Far from being "indestructible", artifacts made of early plastics in museum collections have not only begun to degrade but are also endangering other collection items through off-gassing. Many of the dangers have been researched in recent years, but only by and among conservators who have put forward a number of preventive conservation standards for plastics. Proper storage is noted throughout the literature as the number one method of care. Unfortunately, for collections personnel, storage of plastics not only involves knowing how to store the different types of plastics but also being able to distinguish one plastic from the other. Traditionally, conservators, who have an extensive knowledge of chemistry, are able to make such distinctions. This project makes this information easily accessible and discernible for collections staff who are the individuals ultimately responsible for storage. I accomplished my research through a review of the literature discussing plastic and American culture, preventive conservation standards, and specific scientific properties of cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, and polyurethane foam. Combined with interviews and survey results from historical institutions throughout the United States, I was able to create a manual that teaches collections professionals how to identify cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, and polyurethane foam and provides the appropriate storage recommendations for each plastic.