Coatings for the protection of plastic surfaces

Yvonne Shashoua, Aurelia Chevalier, carolien coon, Stephane Cros, Manuel Hidalgo, Massimo Lazzari, Mohor Michel, Elene Semenzin, Matija Strlic, Angela Šurca

Research output: Contribution to conferenceConference abstract for conferenceResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This presentation gives an overview of coordinated research into the potential of coatings to prevent or minimize the rate of degradation of plastics objects and artworks with time. Innovative active (namely metal nanomaterials in aqueous solutions developed by USC) and passive coatings (water-based acrylic and polyurethane coatings developed by CEA), as well as combinations in the form of multi-layered systems, were applied by brush and spray to plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cellulose acetate (CA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA).

The risk that coatings will change original surfaces was minimized by first evaluating them after application to new, model plastics and examining them both immediately after application and again after exposure to accelerated thermo-oxidative, hydrolytic and photolytic (UV, LED) ageing regimes designed to represent at least 30 years in real time. Accelerated ageing regimes were tailored to promote the specific primary degradation pathways of each plastic type.

In addition to determining the ability of coatings to prevent or minimize the rate of degradation of plastics using infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, it was essential to evaluate whether the coatings complied with the International Council Of Museums code of ethics describing changes in appearance and reversibility or retreatability. A panel of 20 conservators and conservation scientists from six cultural institutions compared appearances and surface textures of new-, thermally- and photolytically- aged model PVC, CA, ABS and PLA plastics with and without coatings. The reversibility of coatings was determined by applying distilled water with a polypropylene microfiber cloth and determining the number of rubs necessary for removal. Innovative active and acrylic-based coatings showed greatest potential at slowing the rate of degradation of aged plastic substrates although none of the coatings prevented breakdown of new substrates.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date29 Nov 2018
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 29 Nov 2018
EventNANORESTART International Conference - National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 29 Nov 201830 Nov 2018
http://www.nanorestart.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=303&Itemid=766
https://www.incca.org/news/nanorestart-final-conference-national-museum-denmark-29th-and-30th-november-2018

Conference

ConferenceNANORESTART International Conference
LocationNational Museum of Denmark
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period29/11/201830/11/2018
Internet address

Bibliographical note

The National Museum of Denmark, 2018. ISBN: 978-87-7602-506-9

Keywords

  • Coatings
  • Plastics
  • Oxidation
  • Nanomaterial
  • Hydrolysis
  • Barrier

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