Hi Julia, I'm a PhD student in Australia researching plastics in paper-based collections. I'm glad that there's interest in establishing more knowledge on plastics!
You may find this reference from the National Parks Service <https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/18-02.pdf> helpful - it's dated from 2004, but it provides a list of still-popular materials, and speaks in detail on the properties you're looking for. I'm sure materials used will vary by region due to supplier availability as well. In Australia, many institutions order from Archival Survival, which has a catalogue <http://www.archivalsurvival.com.au/products.htm> linked here. Hope this is helpful! ------------------------------ Cancy Chu PhD Researcher Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation University of Melbourne ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 10-10-2019 09:07 From: Julia Sawitzki Subject: Plastics used in collections Dear Colleagues, as a mini project in my position as assistant conservator at the Kunsthaus Zurich, I want to establish a small material compendium of plastics used for display, storage or packaging in collections. It is supposed to be a starting point for a selection of chemically inert plastics, that can be used in our collection. Being specialized on modern and contemporary art and materials, I have some ideas for companies, brand names, materials that might work (e.g. PE-foam (Plastazote, Ethafoam), PC (Macrolon), PMMA (Perspex, Corian), PE-fleece (Tyvek), PE-boxes and pallets ect.). Nevertheless, I'm very interested in your expertise/additions. Which plastics/plastic products are you using in your collections? What are your experiences with them? Also, I understand wood is still a widely used material for transport boxes. Of course it might be alright to use these boxes temporarily, but in reality they tend to be used as storage boxes as well. On the long run this bears the risk of high acidity inside the box and is a threat for pest infestation, too. What kind of alternatives with the similar properties (longevity, durability, easy to built, strength) can you think of? Thank you in advance for your reply and participation! With the best wishes, Julia Sawitzki ------------------------------ Julia Sawitzki Conservator M. A. Kunsthaus Zürich Zürich ------------------------------ Reply to Sender : https://community.culturalheritage.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=481&SenderKey=a215b07c-9147-4bdd-b411-6005e915d9f0&MID=9105&MDATE=756%253e46546%253c&UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e Reply to Discussion : https://community.culturalheritage.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=481&MID=9105&MDATE=756%253e46546%253c&UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions&MDATE=756%253e46546%253c&UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
