*Plastics in Museum Collections – a study of their chemical and physical degradation using a System Dynamics approach* <http://www.seaha-cdt.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/P54-Plastics-in-museum-collections-1.pdf>
This PhD project will view museum artefacts in a new way: as complex systems which undergo multiple, inter-related chemical and physical processes. Focussing on plastic objects, which are found in increasing numbers in museum collections, and present significant problems in relation to their stability, the successful student will conduct experiments that seek to understand these processes and their inter-relationships in more depth. The project is based at UCL, in partnership with the Museum of London and Lacerta Technology Ltd. The research will involve degradation experiments and laboratory-based materials analysis using techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The student will also perform on-site analysis at the Museum of London using portable, non-destructive analytical techniques. This research aims to develop a new approach to understanding material degradation that can be applied in many fields, such as medicine or defence, and provide practical solutions for heritage professionals, such as providing guidance on controlling museum storage environments. Academic supervisors: Dr Katherine Curran and Prof Ivan Parkin, UCL Heritage supervisors: Abigail Moore, Museum of London Industrial supervisor: Dr John Duncan, Lacerta Technology Ltd *Application deadline: 20th August 2017, 5PM GMT* *For further information contact: [email protected] <[email protected]>* ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Searchable archives: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/
