Care of Plastics

In Art & Design collections

derek.pullen@tate.org.uk 07974985849

Scope

• Artists’ plastics• Care principles - a stable environment• Identification – prioritise problem plastics • Signs and Causes of Deterioration • Preparation, handling, storage and display• Labelling• Cleaning• Other options

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints• Acrylics, PVA – poly

vinyl acetate

Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic

Philip KingTra-La-La  19632743 x 762 x 762 mm

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic

• Polyester resin

Arman

Venus of the shaving brushes c.1968

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic

• Polyester resin• Silicone resins

Ron Mueck Ghost  1998Fibreglass, silicone, polyurethane foam, acrylic fibre and fabric2019 x 648 x 991 mm

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– Naum Gabo Linear construction in space no2 1970 h.1150mm

Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic

• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic

• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found

objects & readymades

Bruce Lacey The Womaniser  1966Mixed media 1500 x 1650 x 730 mm

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic

• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found

objects & readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose

nitrate and acetate

•

Naum Gabo, Column 1920 h.144mm

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Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic • Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found objects &

readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate

and acetate• Photographic, new media,

videos, tapes and disks

Scrap heap services

Artists’Plastics

• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate

• GRP – glass reinforced plastic • Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found objects &

readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate

and acetate• Photographic, new media,

videos, tapes and disks• Polymer clay

Thomas Schutte from United Enemies  1993 h.350mm

Carol BlackburnPolymer clay bowls 2007

each 45 x 75mm diam

Care principles

• Prevention• Damage is irreversible.• Create a dark, cool, clean, dry• and stable environment

Care principles

• Prevention• Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment

• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?

• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent?

Care principles

• Prevention• Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment

• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on,

accommodate artist’s intent?

• Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling

Care principles

• Prevention – damage is irreversible

• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on,

accommodate artist’s intent?

• Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling

• Identify, document, record and monitor Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’ works

Care principles

• Prevention – damage is irreversible• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s

intent? • Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling

• Identify, document, record and monitor• Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’

works

• Any plan is better than none

Prioritise the problem plastics

• Identify:– Cellulose acetate– Cellulose nitrate (celluloid)– Plasticised PVC– Polyurethane polyester foams

• Isolate

• Ventilate

• Monitor

Signs of Deterioration• Odour – acidic, camphor (CN)• Change: colour -yellowing, bleaching

shape –distortion, sagging, sweating – oily spots

bloom – white powdercracks, splits (CAc) and crazing(CN)

• Corrosion of metal parts• Discolouration of packing materials• Increased brittleness, crumbling of foam• Onset is unpredictable and rapid• Occurs at stress points and handled areas• Unstable environments cause stress

Gabo Construction in Space (Crystal)1937: Details of condition in 2007

Causes of deterioration

• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress

Causes of deterioration

• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress

• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants

Causes of deterioration

• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress

• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants

• Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves

Causes of deterioration

• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress

• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants

• Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves

• Cleaning and misconceived repairs

Light damage

• Cumulative and irreversible

• Affects both the plastic and pigments

• Control light in storage and on display

• UV component in light is most damaging

• Use UV filters on windows and lights

Storage

• Stable conditions at all times

• Clean & dry

• Cool & dark

• Minimise handling

• labels

Storage

• Use: ‘archival’ quality material– Avoid contact with wood, metals, dust and

other ‘objects’– Acid free paper– Silicone release paper– Polyester wadding– Polypropylene containers– Plastazote (closed cell polyethylene foams)

Storage – Problem Plastics

• Isolate and separate ‘at risk’ from ‘deteriorating’ objects

• Use:– Acid free paper– Silicone release paper– Polyester wadding– Ventilated polypropylene containers

• Scavengers for acidic gases– Charcoal cloth and zeolites– Artsorb board

Gabo –cellulose acetate storage with plastazote & charcoal cloth in ventilated polypropylene bin

Storage – Problem Plastics

• Check vulnerable ‘at risk’ items at least once a year, preferably more often.

• Use smell and dampened indicator strip to confirm acidic off-gassing.

Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968)

Photo taken 1978

Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968)

Display –Problem Plastics

• Low light - less than 100 lux

• Ventilated plinth covers

• Allow at least 72 hours for plinth paint to dry before covering

Labelling

• Avoid solvent based inks, paints and isolating layers.

• Avoid adhesive tapes

• Avoid rubber bands

• Use tie on labels with cotton tape

• Use soft pencil (inside objects)

Cleaning• To remove dust and contaminants• Cleaning causes damage – both mechanical and

chemical• Decide on a balance between appearance and

risk of damage • Avoid solvents, eg alcohols, acetone, cellulose

thinners, cleaning fluids• Use soft dry lint free cloths, eg microfibre • For stubborn marks only, use water to dampen

cloth and dry immediately

Other plastic formats

• Fabrics – costumes and accessories - provide supports, isolate PVC’s

• Photograhic – archival quality storage materials

• New media: videos, tapes, disks – a management policy is essential for maintenance and migration.

UK conservation supplies

• Conservation by Design www.conservation-by-design.co.uk

• Preservation equipment www.preservationequipment.com

• To find a conservator- www.conservationregister.com

• Book- ‘Plastics, collecting and conserving’ Quye & Williamson

• Article -Scott Williams – Care of Plastics; Malignant Plastics – 8 pages –google it or…

• http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn24/wn24-1/wn24-102.html

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

• Avoid light

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

• Avoid light

• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

• Avoid light

• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,

• Monitor

Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record

• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

• Avoid light

• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,

• Monitor

• Keep on collecting and researching

Jim Lambie Tate Britain 2001

3D Documentation of Plastic Sculptures by Naum Gaboin Tate’s Collection

A Project Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Tate version

Gabo Construction on a Line (1937-8)

Undated photo c.1940’s

Original Replica

Original Replica

Original Replica

Construction on a line(c. 1935 – 7 )

Naum Gabo.

Richard Artschwager Table and Chair  1963-4Melamine laminate and woodobject: 755 x 1320 x 952 mm object: 1143 x 438 x 533 mm

Spiral Theme (c. 1941)

Construction in Space ‘Crystal’ (c. 1937)

The two sculptures chosen forour pilot study

Spiral Theme 1941: Photo taken in 2007

Laser scanning ‘Construction in Space “Crystal”

‘Construction in Space “Crystal” (Model coloured to show different component parts)

Data from Plowman Craven

Photogrammetry

Lines drawn from different camera position to targets on the object

A1

A2

A3

Taking measurements in 3D space from photogrammetric images

Use of the touch probe

Construction in Space “Crystal”: Showing warping of form