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Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 October 2023) | Viewed by 38026

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Valentina Pintus

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Guest Editor

Institute of Science and Technology in Art, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Interests: heritage science; modern-contemporary art; ageing studies; analytical chemistry; polymer chemistry; organic material analyses; method development; data analyses; preservation of cultural heritage; indoor and outdoor museums
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of polymeric materials in modern and contemporary art, such as binders, varnishes, adhesives, plastics, foams, optical fibers, etc., and their preservation is highly challenging. An ever-evolving array of polymers is adapted to artistic and industrial needs by manufacturers and individual artists, with consequent wide variation in formulations. As these materials age and degrade, their chemical stability, appearance, and mechanical properties can be compromised. This fact motivates research into preventive and interventive conservation techniques. Polymeric material characterization is key to these endeavors and is often challenging.

Evolving scientific characterization methods, whether in situ or on extracted micro-samples and enhanced data analytical techniques contribute to modern and contemporary art study in exciting new ways.

This Special Issue will highlight the latest scientific and technical research into investigations of polymeric materials widely found in modern and contemporary art from a broad perspective. Contributions are invited on, but not limited to, these subjects:

Polymeric materials in modern and contemporary art;
Matrix and additive identification and their interaction;
New technologies and evaluation methods;
Ageing and degradation mechanisms and phenomena;
Influence of VOCs on polymeric materials;
Advances in conservation treatments;
Effectiveness of new cleaning methods;
Preservation.

Dr. Valentina Pintus
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymeric materials in modern and contemporary art
matrix and additive identification and their interaction
new technologies and evaluation methods
ageing and degradation mechanisms and phenomena
influence of VOCs on polymeric materials
advances in conservation treatments
effectiveness of new cleaning methods
preservation

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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24 pages, 14892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Understanding of the Aging Behavior of p-PVC in Close Contact with Minced Meat in the Artwork PO^EMETRIE by Dieter Roth

by Paula Gassmann, Carolin Bohlmann and Valentina Pintus

Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4558; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234558 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 3851

Abstract

This paper presents scientific investigations into the materiality and aging behavior of a copy of Dieter Roth’s multiple PO^EMETRIE (1968), mainly made of p-PVC components and minced meat, with the aim of informing conservation-restoration strategies. The main issues were represented by plasticizer migration, fat diffusion, and leakage, which led to the formation of a sticky surface layer. Replicas of p-PVC without minced meat were prepared and artificially thermally aged, while several techniques were used to investigate both the artwork and the replicas in terms of materials and degradation state. These include UV/Vis imaging, pH measurements, FTIR-ATR, and Py-GC/MS. In addition to showing that p-PVC-based materials composed of slightly different plasticizers were affected by similar degradation pathways (i.e., plasticizer migration, yellowing, etc.), this study reports that fat components were also shown to be unstable, resulting in migration/leakage in different directions, where their degradation amplified that of the p-PVC bags. This work represents a first study of plasticizer migration and fat diffusion in the art and conservation context. Also, an ammine-wax type of lubricant was identified in the most recent p-PVC formulations as the replicas selected for this study, thus providing an important source of information in different polymer-based research areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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16 pages, 70001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Frozen, Cold, or Cool? Chemical Assessment of the Effectiveness of Storage Conditions for Celluloid 3D Objects

by Christina Elsässer, Eva Mariasole Angelin, Peter Montag, Harald Hilbig, Christian U. Grosse and Marisa Pamplona

Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4056; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204056 - 11 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1346

Abstract

Preserving celluloid artifacts is challenging for museums, as this plastic is highly prone to degradation. Frozen, cold, and cool storage solutions are typically recommended for inhibiting the chemical degradation of celluloid. However, they are rarely implemented for three-dimensional celluloid (3D-CN) objects because low temperatures might cause irreversible effects (e.g., microcracking). This work presents the effects of four different storage temperatures (+23 °C, +13 °C, +9 °C, −15 °C) on the preservation of artificially aged 3D-CN mock-ups, aiming at understanding their effectiveness by measuring molecular weight distribution, camphor, and nitrogen contents after storage. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results showed that the least loss of camphor content and fewer polymer chain scissions happened at −15 °C, hinting that this temperature was the best for preservation. However, the heterogeneous nature of celluloid alteration, i.e., the development of degradation gradients in thicker 3D-CN objects (>0.5 mm), made it necessary to apply a novel sampling technique, which selectively considers several depths for analyses from the surface to the core (depth profiling). This depth profiling made monitoring the degradation evolution dependent on the storage conditions in the thicker mock-ups possible. This approach was also used for the first time to quantify the polymer chain scission, camphor loss, and denitration of historical artifacts, indicating a dramatic difference in the degradation stage between surface and core. The effectiveness of frozen storage on the chemical stability of 3D-CN after seven months could support museums to consider reducing the storage temperatures to preserve precious artifacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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16 pages, 2313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Thermal Analytical Study of LEGO^® Bricks for Investigating Light-Stability of ABS

by Francesca Sabatini, Silvia Pizzimenti, Irene Bargagli, Ilaria Degano, Celia Duce, Laura Cartechini, Francesca Modugno and Francesca Rosi

Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3267; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153267 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1959

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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18 pages, 6570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s

by Rosa Costantini, Luca Nodari, Jacopo La Nasa, Francesca Modugno, Lucia Bonasera, Sara Rago, Alfonso Zoleo, Stefano Legnaioli and Patrizia Tomasin

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2111; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092111 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2019

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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22 pages, 8864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mock-Ups in Plastic Conservation Research: Processing and Aging of 3D Celluloid Specimens Simulating Historical Objects

by Christina Elsässer, Veronika Mayr, Peter Montag, Eva Mariasole Angelin, Harald Hilbig, Christian Ulrich Grosse and Marisa Pamplona

Polymers 2023, 15(4), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040852 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

The preparation of mock-ups in heritage science studies represents a valid alternative for investigation purposes, avoiding extensive sampling of cultural heritage objects. This work presents for the first time the successful preparation of three dimensional (3D) mock-ups made of celluloid, considering a combination of historical industrial production strategies and small-scale lab facilities. Prefabricated transparent celluloid sheets were acquired and then shaped through compression molding for creating mock-ups with 3D geometries. These reflected common and representative shapes encountered in the collection of the Deutsches Museum. Visual inspection of the mock-ups allowed determining the best compression molding conditions. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) confirmed the absence of molecular heterogeneity due to the processing method. Artificial aging of the mock-ups was conducted to reach degradation states comparable with naturally aged objects. ATR-FTIR investigation offered first insights into the induced artificial degradation. Ion chromatography (IC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses allowed to assess the extent of the artificial aging of the celluloid mock-ups and confirmed the occurrence of loss of camphor, denitration, and main chain polymer scission, the latter being the predominant decay path. The comparison with historical objects highlighted that the mock-ups are representative of moderately aged artifacts. As such, this study paves the way for implementing moderately aged celluloid 3D mock-ups in heritage science research, enabling in-depth testing for the scope of conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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20 pages, 9428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Impact and Suitability of Dense Carbon Dioxide as a Green Solvent for the Treatment of PMMA of Historical Value

by Angelica Bartoletti, Inês Soares, Ana Maria Ramos, Yvonne Shashoua, Anita Quye, Teresa Casimiro and Joana Lia Ferreira

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030566 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

Surface cleaning of plastic materials of historical value can be challenging due to the high risk of inducing detrimental effects and visual alterations. As a result, recent studies have focused on researching new approaches that might reduce the associated hazards and, at the same time, minimize the environmental impact by employing biodegradable and green materials. In this context, the present work investigates the effects and potential suitability of dense carbon dioxide (CO₂) as an alternative and green solvent for cleaning plastic materials of historical value. The results of extensive trials with CO₂ in different phases (supercritical, liquid, and vapor) and under various conditions (pressure, temperature, exposure, and depressurization time) are reported for new, transparent, thick poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples. The impact of CO₂ on the weight, the appearance of the samples (dimensions, color, gloss, and surface texture), and modifications to their physicochemical and mechanical properties were monitored via a multi-analytical approach that included optical microscopy, Raman and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies, and micro-indentation (Vickers hardness). Results showed that CO₂ induced undesirable and irreversible changes in PMMA samples (i.e., formation of fractures and stress-induced cracking, drastic decrease in the surface hardness of the samples), independent of the conditions used (i.e., temperature, pressure, CO₂ phase, and exposure time). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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17 pages, 10535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shedding Light on Degradation Gradients in Celluloid: An ATR-FTIR Study of Artificially and Naturally Aged Specimens

by Marco Valente Chavez Lozano, Christina Elsässer, Eva Mariasole Angelin and Marisa Pamplona

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030522 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2934

Abstract

Celluloid artifacts are known by conservation professionals to be prone to degradation, threatening their own integrity and that of nearby heritage collections. Celluloid alteration can have a heterogeneous nature, and this research topic is still in its infancy for heritage science. This article investigates degradation gradients, both along depth and width, of artificially aged celluloid sheets, and compares them to three-dimensional (3D) historical objects with the aim of gaining a better insight into the nature and evolution of their decay. ATR-FTIR was used to systematically study different sampling points of the artificially and naturally aged specimens and allowed us to recognize better-preserved surfaces and more deteriorated cores. ATR-FTIR was found suitable for assessing the molecular changes induced by degradation, particularly denitration and formation of carbonyl-containing degradation products in severely aged specimens. Even though the severely artificially aged sheets displayed unusual alteration phenomena, they present a degradation gradient similar to the one observed for the naturally aged 3D objects under study. This research underlines that sampling at different depths and/or widths is relevant for characterizing the heterogeneity of degraded celluloid, and further investigation with chromatographic techniques would greatly benefit the understanding of the complex degradation of celluloid artifacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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27 pages, 4202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Materials and Condition of 20th-Century Dolls in Zoe Leonard’s Mouth Open, Teeth Showing 2000

by Judith Lee, Libby Ireland, Joyce H. Townsend, Bronwyn Ormsby, Angelica Bartoletti, Deborah Cane, Simoní Da Ros, Rose King, Isabella del Gaudio and Katherine Curran

Polymers 2023, 15(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010034 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3320

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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16 pages, 189704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mattel’s Barbie: Investigation of a Symbol—Analysis of Polymeric Matrices and Degradation Phenomena for Sixteen Dolls from 1959 to 1976

by Andrea Macchia, Chiara Biribicchi, Camilla Zaratti, Katiuscia Testa Chiari, Martina D’Ambrosio, Denise Toscano, Francesca Caterina Izzo and Mauro Francesco La Russa

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4287; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204287 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6154

Abstract

Mattel’s Barbie dolls are the most famous and iconic dolls since 1959. Today, they are being collected by individuals and often conserved in museum environments due to their cultural and historical significance reflecting everyday life and historical events. However, just like most museum objects made of plastics, both historical and more recent Barbies show evident degradation phenomena. Firstly, Barbies were made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), affected by the migration of additives—mostly the plasticizers—from the bulk phase to the outermost layer, appearing as a tacky and glossy exudate. Over the years, Barbies’ polymeric constituents were replaced with more stable ones, whose additives migration is limited compared to PVC, even though still occurring. Multispectral photography in visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) light, microscopical observations in VIS and UV light, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy in the Attenuated Total Reflectance mode (FT-IR ATR) were performed to characterize the constituent materials of 15 Barbies produced between 1959 and 1976, bridging the information gap on their processing over the years. The micro-invasive multi-analytical approach also allowed for the characterization of the degradation products, permitting the reference of the exudated compound to the specific bulk polymer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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26 pages, 3985 KiB

Open AccessReview

Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Paints: A Literature Review of Material Properties, Ageing Characteristics, and Conservation Challenges

by Morana Novak and Bronwyn Ormsby

Polymers 2023, 15(22), 4348; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15224348 - 7 Nov 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5935

Abstract

Since their development in the 1950s, poly(vinyl acetate) [PVAc] paints (also known as vinyl) have been used by many artists, most notably in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom; they are also used globally as a common binder for house paints. However, only a relatively limited number of heritage scientific studies have focused on vinyl paints. Consequently, many critical aspects of this material, such as the degradation processes, variations in paint formulations, and responses to conservation treatments, remain largely understudied. This article aims to summarise the available relevant information on poly(vinyl acetate) paints from both the scientific and the conservation practice perspectives. The article provides a brief overview of the development of poly(vinyl acetate) paints as artist-grade and household products and the known differences in their formulations. It also focuses on poly(vinyl acetate) ageing behaviour, the physicochemical properties, the recent scientific research on poly(vinyl acetate) material characterisation and degradation, and the main conservation issues regarding these paints, such as those relating to cleaning treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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19 pages, 3154 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research on the Analysis and Application of Polymer Materials in Contemporary Sculpture Art Creation

by Chao Gao, Feng Wang, Xiaobing Hu and Ming Zhang

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122727 - 18 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3666

Abstract

The application of polymer materials in sculpture art creation is extensive and plays a significant role in the development of sculpture art. This article aims to systematically explore the application of polymer materials in contemporary sculpture art creation. The research comprehensively applies various techniques such as literature research, data comparison, and case analysis to explore in detail the ways, methods, and paths of polymer materials employed in the shaping, decoration, and protection of sculptural artworks. First, the article analyzes three methods of shaping sculpture artworks with polymer materials (casting, printing, and constructing). Secondly, it explores two techniques of using polymer materials to adorn sculpture artworks (coloring and imitating texture); then it discusses the significant approach of using polymer materials to protect sculptural artworks (protective spray film). Finally, the research identifies the merits and demerits of using polymer materials in contemporary sculpture art creation. The findings of this study are expected to enrich the effective application of polymer materials in contemporary sculpture art creation and offer novel techniques and ideas for contemporary sculpture art creators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials in Modern—Contemporary Art II)

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