Plastic toy soldiers, a lost battle? – an analytical perspective

Authors

  • António Pereira HERCULES Laboratory and CityUMacau Chair on Sustainable Heritage, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research of Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal; Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9553-1618
  • António Candeias HERCULES Laboratory and CityUMacau Chair on Sustainable Heritage, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research of Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal; Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4912-5061
  • Ana Cardoso HERCULES Laboratory and CityUMacau Chair on Sustainable Heritage, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research of Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4935-3398
  • José Mirão HERCULES Laboratory and CityUMacau Chair on Sustainable Heritage, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research of Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0103-3448
  • Ana Teresa Caldeira HERCULES Laboratory and CityUMacau Chair on Sustainable Heritage, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research of Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal; Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5409-6990

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp2020002

Keywords:

Plastic objects, Multi-analytical method, Cellulose acetate, Triphenyl phosphate, Dimethyl phthalate

Abstract

The preservation and conservation of museum collections requires a detailed understanding of their constituent materials. The use of a wide variety of instrumental techniques can provide complementary data regarding the composition and structure of these materials. A set of plastic toy soldiers (mid 20th century) from the Oporto Military Museum (Museu Militar do Porto) exibited accelerated deterioration. To better understand this deterioration process, the authors used a multi-analytical approach. The micromorphological features of the objects were characterized with stereoscopic microscopy and VP-SEM-EDS, the polymer and its additives were identified with ATR-FTIR, and 1H and 13C NMR, respectively, and the crystalline degradation products were identified with micro-XRD. The polymer that composes the toys was identified as cellulose acetate, with triphenyl phosphate and dimethyl phthalate additives. A crystalline efflorescence of triphenyl phosphate was identified as a degradation product. This methodology showed to be adequate for a detailed characterization of plastic artefacts in museum environments.

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Published

2021-05-31

How to Cite

Pereira, A., Candeias, A., Cardoso, A., Mirão, J., & Caldeira, A. T. (2021). Plastic toy soldiers, a lost battle? – an analytical perspective. Conservar Património, 37, 92–99. https://doi.org/10.14568/cp2020002

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