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Modern polymeric objects including plastics are the product of human ingenuity and have played a leading role in shaping modern society. They are collected in their millions by museums, archives and galleries to document, interpret and reflect on the enormous changes the world has seen in the last 150 years.
UCL ISH academic Dr Katherine Curran launched the prestigious ERC starting grant funded project in April 2017*.
COMPLEX: ‘The Degradation of Complex Modern Polymeric Objects in Heritage Collections: A System Dynamics Approach’ is an interdisciplinary project which explores a novel approach to polymer degradation, aiming to help museums, art galleries and archives preserve the plastic objects in their collections for future generations. The aim of COMPLEX is to change the way in which the degradation of modern polymers is seen and comprehended by using a system dynamics approach to model and interpret the complex, physical and chemical interconnected interactions taking place in an object over time and exposure to environmental conditions.
Analysis of museum, library and archival artefacts composed of modern polymeric materials is conducted in collaboration with our heritage partners the Museum of London and Tate and our industrial partners Lacerta Technologies and Conservation by Design.
Different analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS), Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Tensile Testing, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Colorimetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Optical Profilometry are being used for defining the material composition of objects and identifying evidence of degradation such as oxidation or hydrolysis, mechanical properties, molecular weight or moisture content.
Computational Modelling is also used in conjunction with experimental work to simulate and predict degradation and as a means to identify where laboratory testing is required. Matlab programming is used for the construction of a code which simulates the behaviour of the system.