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Lazzari M, López-Morán T. Aging of a Poly(vinyl acetate)-Based White Glue and Its Durability in Contemporary Artworks. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1712. [PMID: 38932062 PMCID: PMC11207482 DOI: 10.3390/polym16121712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While extensive research has focused on understanding the degradation mechanisms of Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAC) paint under different environmental conditions, limited attention has been paid to the long-term stability of PVAC-based white glues, especially when used in artworks. This study investigates the accelerated degradation, under simulated photoaging, and isothermal treatment of a commercial PVAC-based white glue considered representative of this class of materials used in contemporary artworks to predict its durability and assess its behavior in art objects. Through accelerated aging experiments and comparison with natural aging observed in artworks, the study reveals the formation of chromophores and the release of plasticizers as key processes; in particular, the progressive darkening was considered an early indicator of degradation processes, before structural changes could be detected by FTIR or NMR spectroscopies. The plasticizer loss induces an increase in glass transition temperature, from 7 °C to temperatures higher than room temperature, affecting the adhesive's cohesive strength and contributing to the detachment of materials in artworks. The findings underscore the importance of preventive conservation measures to mitigate degradation issues in PVAC-based artworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Lazzari
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultade de Química, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Avenida das Ciencias s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Thais López-Morán
- Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea (CGAC), R. de Ramón del Valle-Inclán 2, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
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Sabatini F, Pizzimenti S, Bargagli I, Degano I, Duce C, Cartechini L, Modugno F, Rosi F. A Thermal Analytical Study of LEGO ® Bricks for Investigating Light-Stability of ABS. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3267. [PMID: 37571161 PMCID: PMC10422395 DOI: 10.3390/polym15153267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic polymer widely used in several everyday life applications; moreover, it is also one of the most employed plastics in contemporary artworks and design objects. In this study, the chemical and thermal properties of an ABS-based polymer and its photo-degradation process were investigated through a multi-analytical approach based on thermal, mass spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques. LEGO® building blocks were selected for studying the ABS properties. First, the composition of unaged LEGO® bricks was determined in terms of polymer composition and thermal stability; then, the bricks were subjected to UV-Vis photo-oxidative-accelerated ageing for evaluation of possible degradation processes. The modifications of the chemical and thermal properties were monitored in time by a multi-technique approach aimed at improving the current knowledge of ABS photodegradation, employing pyrolysis online with gas chromatography and evolved gas analysis, coupled with mass spectrometric detection (Py-GC-MS and EGA-MS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and corroborated by external reflection FT-IR spectroscopy. The multimodal approach provided new evidence on the two-step degradation pathway proposed for ABS, defining molecular markers for polybutadiene oxidation and styrene-acrylonitrile depolymerization. Moreover, the results highlighted the feasibility of correlating accurate compositional and thermal data acquired by bulk techniques with external reflection FT-IR spectroscopy as a non-invasive portable tool to monitor the state of conservation of plastic museum objects in-situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sabatini
- Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies “G. Natta” (CNR-SCITEC), Via Elce di Sotto 8, 01628 Perugia, Italy; (F.S.); (I.B.); (L.C.); (F.R.)
| | - Silvia Pizzimenti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Irene Bargagli
- Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies “G. Natta” (CNR-SCITEC), Via Elce di Sotto 8, 01628 Perugia, Italy; (F.S.); (I.B.); (L.C.); (F.R.)
| | - Ilaria Degano
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Celia Duce
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Laura Cartechini
- Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies “G. Natta” (CNR-SCITEC), Via Elce di Sotto 8, 01628 Perugia, Italy; (F.S.); (I.B.); (L.C.); (F.R.)
| | - Francesca Modugno
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Francesca Rosi
- Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies “G. Natta” (CNR-SCITEC), Via Elce di Sotto 8, 01628 Perugia, Italy; (F.S.); (I.B.); (L.C.); (F.R.)
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Costantini R, Nodari L, La Nasa J, Modugno F, Bonasera L, Rago S, Zoleo A, Legnaioli S, Tomasin P. Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15092111. [PMID: 37177259 PMCID: PMC10181275 DOI: 10.3390/polym15092111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made between the 1960s and 1970s during the Italian Arte Viva movement. The main components in the foam and additives were characterized through micro attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (μ-ATR-FTIR) and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Painted samples were further investigated through μ-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to define binders and pigments. The use of μ-ATR-FTIR in combination with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) allowed the variable conditions of the artworks to be assessed and attained some insights into the chemical processes responsible for aging. At the same time, morphological changes due to the degradation phenomena were recorded through optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed characterization of the PUR foam and painting materials was helpful in attaining some insights into harmful environmental parameters for the artworks, thus informing preventive conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Costantini
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Nodari
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Jacopo La Nasa
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Modugno
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Bonasera
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Rago
- Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music, University of Padova, Piazza Capitaniato 7, 35139 Padova, Italy
| | - Alfonso Zoleo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Legnaioli
- Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, National Research Council, (ICCOM-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Tomasin
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
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Study of the Long-Term Aging of Polypropylene-Made Disposable Surgical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15041001. [PMID: 36850284 PMCID: PMC9962738 DOI: 10.3390/polym15041001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The main purpose of this work is to contribute to understanding the mechanism of oxidation of the polymeric components of common disposable masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic to offer the chemical basis to understand their long-term behavior under typical environmental conditions. Artificial aging of representative mask layers under isothermal conditions (110 °C) or accelerated photoaging showed that all the PP-made components underwent a fast oxidation process, following the typical hydrocarbon oxidation mechanism. In particular, yellowing and the melting temperature drop are early indicators of their diffusion-limited oxidation. Morphology changes also induced a loss of mechanical properties, observable as embrittlement of the fabric fibers. Results were validated through preliminary outdoor aging of masks, which allows us to predict they will suffer fast and extensive oxidation only in the case of contemporary exposure to sunlight and relatively high environmental temperature, leading to their extensive breakdown in the form of microfiber fragments, i.e., microplastics.
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Exploring the Materials and Condition of 20th-Century Dolls in Zoe Leonard's Mouth Open, Teeth Showing 2000. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 15:polym15010034. [PMID: 36616384 PMCID: PMC9824361 DOI: 10.3390/polym15010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematic condition and analytical surveys were carried out on Zoe Leonard's (b. 1961) Mouth Open, Teeth Showing 2000, an installation artwork in Tate's collection consisting of 162 children's dolls. The dolls were manufactured at various points within the 20th century and encompass several potentially problematic synthetic polymers found in modern and contemporary museum collections. To explore the doll materials and conservation condition, a multi-analytical approach was used to identify key synthetic polymer types and additives present, including portable and bench analytical techniques. Challenging degradation phenomena associated with different types of doll have been discussed and related to their material composition, which has helped our understanding of the conservation challenges inherent to this contemporary artwork.
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Visual and Physical Degradation of the Black and White Mosaic of a Roman Domus under Palazzo Valentini in Rome: A Preliminary Study. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27227765. [PMID: 36431866 PMCID: PMC9699458 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27227765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Palazzo Valentini, the institutional head office of Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, stands in in a crucial position in the Roman archaeological and urban contexts, exactly between the Fora valley, Quirinal Hill slopes, and Campus Martius. It stands on a second-century A.D. complex to which belong, between other archeological remains, two richly decorated aristocratic domus. One of these buildings, the domus A, presents an outward porticoed room with a fourth-century AD central impluvium (open air part of the atrium designed to carry away rainwater) with a black/white tiled mosaic pavement, the preservation status of which is compromised by an incoherent degradation product that has caused gradual detachment of the mosaic tiles. To identify the product and determine the causes of degradation, samples of the product were taken and subjected to SEM-EDS, XRF, NMR, FT-IR and GC-MS analyses. The findings reported in this study can help restorers, archaeologists and conservation scientists in order to improve knowledge about the Roman mosaic, its construction phases, conservation problems and proper solutions.
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Micheluz A, Angelin EM, Lopes JA, Melo MJ, Pamplona M. Discoloration of Historical Plastic Objects: New Insight into the Degradation of β-Naphthol Pigment Lakes. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:2278. [PMID: 34301037 PMCID: PMC8309268 DOI: 10.3390/polym13142278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Light is a determining factor in the discoloration of plastics, and photodegradation processes can affect the molecular structures of both the polymer and colorants. Limited studies focused on the discoloration of heritage plastics in conservation science. This work investigated the discoloration of red historical polyethylene (PE) objects colored with PR 48:2 and PR 53:1. High-density and low-density PE reference polymers, neat pigment powders, and historical samples were assessed before and after accelerated photoaging. The applied methodology provided insight into the individual light-susceptibility of polyethylenes, organic pigment lakes, and their combined effect in the photoaging of historical plastic formulations. After light exposure, both PE references and historical samples yellowed, PR53:1 faded, and PR 48:2 darkened; however, both organic pigments faded severely in the historical samples. This highlights the role played by the plastic binder likely facilitating the pigment photofading. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques-EGA-MS, PY-GC/MS, and TD-GC/MS-were successfully employed for characterizing the plastic formulations and degradation. The identification of phthalic compounds in both aged β-naphthol powders opens new venues for studies on their degradation. This work's approach and analytical methods in studying the discoloration of historical plastics are novel, proving their efficacy, reliability, and potentiality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Micheluz
- Conservation Science Department, Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1, 80538 Munich, Germany;
| | - Eva Mariasole Angelin
- Department of Conservation and Restoration and LAQV-REQUIMTE, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - João Almeida Lopes
- iMed.ULisboa-Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Maria João Melo
- Department of Conservation and Restoration and LAQV-REQUIMTE, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Marisa Pamplona
- Conservation Science Department, Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1, 80538 Munich, Germany;
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