Cross-infection effect of polymers of historic and heritage significance on the degradation of a cellulose reference test material

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Curran, Katherine and Možir, Alenka and Underhill, Mark and Gibson, Lorraine T. and Fearn, Tom and Strlič, Matija (2014) Cross-infection effect of polymers of historic and heritage significance on the degradation of a cellulose reference test material. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 107. 294–306. ISSN 0141-3910 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.12....)

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Abstract

The cross-infection effect of 105 polymer samples was studied, using cellulose as a reference test material. In total 14 polymer types were studied, comprising “modern materials” commonly found in historic and artistic collections including: cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose nitrate (CN), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polyurethane (PUR) and a selection of specialised packaging materials used in art and heritage conservation. Polymer samples were placed in glass vials containing a piece of the cellulose reference and vials were sealed before being heated to 80 C for 14 days. The cross-infection effect on the reference cellulose was measured using viscometry to calculate the degree of polymerisation relative to that of a control reference and a classification system of the cross-infection or preservation effect is proposed. Solid phase micro-extraction (SPME)-GC/MS was used to detect and identify the emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a select number of polymer samples. CN was identified as the polymer with the most severe cross-infection effect while others e.g. polycarbonate (PC) had no effect or even a beneficial effect. Acetic acid was found to be the most characteristic emission detected from the most severely cross-infecting materials.

ORCID iDs

Curran, Katherine, Možir, Alenka, Underhill, Mark, Gibson, Lorraine T. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1461-5359, Fearn, Tom and Strlič, Matija;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:48183
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    September 2014
    Published
    18 December 2013
    Published Online
    11 December 2013
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Chemistry
    Department:Faculty of Science > Pure and Applied Chemistry
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:21 May 2014 10:36
    Last modified:15 Dec 2024 04:56
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/48183
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