Plastics that made history – the contribution of conservation science for the history of the Portuguese Plastics Industry

Susana França de Sá; Sara Marques da Cruz; Maria Elvira Callapez; Vânia Carvalho

doi:10.14568/cp2019017

Authors

Susana França de Sá Department of Conservation and Restoration and LAQV-REQUIMTE, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2445-9361
Sara Marques da Cruz Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria Elvira Callapez Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Vânia Carvalho Museu de Leiria, Câmara Municipal de Leiria, Largo da República, 2414-006 Leiria, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp2019017

Keywords:

Historical plastics, Portuguese Industry, History of technology, Infrared spectroscopy, Conservation and restoration

Abstract

The plastic objects from our cultural heritage are material testimonies of our history, technology and industry. Still, in Portugal, there is no museum of plastics, and the collections are spread through private collectors and industries. The research project, "The Triumph of Bakelite – Contributions to a History of Plastics in Portugal", aims at creating this museum. To this end, the research work gave rise to the exhibition, "Plasticity – A History of Plastics in Portugal", in Museu de Leiria in 2019. This study focuses on the contribution of conservation science for the writing of this history and preparation of ca. 150 historical plastic objects for display. Bakelite, melamine, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and plasticized polyvinyl chloride are just a few examples of the polymers identified by infrared spectroscopy. This identification was crucial to tell the history of the plastics industry in Portugal. Both the spectra and characteristic absorption bands of each polymer are presented.

Received: 2019-6-17
Revised: 2019-11-18
Accepted: 2020-1-6
Online: 2020-5-13
Publication: 2020-11-27

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