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Polymer degradation assessment
Objectives
- The characterization of degradation products (solid, liquid, gaseous) emitted by polymer objects during storage and assessment of risk.
- The study of some reference polymer degradation using SEC, chemiluminescence, thermal analysis (…) and evaluate the applicability of such analytical method for determining the deterioration level of museum objects.
These analytical methods will be applied to evaluate the benefit of a micro environment to improve object conservation.
Description of work
Task 1: Analysis of deterioration products
During collections survey, samples will be collected and send to relevant scientific lab partners for analysis either by GC-MS, XRF, SPME/GCMS. Relevant environmental policy related results will be disseminated using the web, professional networks, and scientific publications.
Task 2: Investigation of degradation processes
Study of ageing of polymer based objects during natural and artificial ageing by gel permeation chromatography, solid phase micro extraction, chemiluminescence and thermal analysis, DTMS… Headspace Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) coupled to Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) will be used for VOC extraction, in contact with reference samples but also in situ, in museum environment. Artificial ageing of artefacts in sealed glass vial with regular SPME/GC/MS analysis will be performed.
