Cellulose acetate

I have two questions for a research paper, intended for publication.
Responses will be kept anonymous if requested.

The object being treated is a private press book with deteriorating
cellulose acetate covers (Schnitzelbank. (New York: Press of the
Woolly Whale, 1938); 2+ variant states, one with plastic covers,
also cased in red cloth/silk). The covers have distorted and are
exuding a mixture of liquid plasticisers, which has penetrated into
the textblock. Library conservators/preservation
administrators/curators who have this book in their collections are
welcome to contact me personally to be notified of research results
and recommendations if they have not already been contacted.

    1.  Has anyone experimented with the remediation suggestions to
        clean cellulose acetate objects of plasticisers and coat the
        cellulose acetate object with "natural oils" such as castor
        or olive to maintain moisture balance in low humidity
        storage, or experimented with the additive stabilising
        solutions, as proposed by Abbas Hamrang in his thesis,
        "Degradation and stabilisation of cellulose based plastics
        and artifacts" (Manchester, UK: Manchester Metropolitan
        University, in association with the Science Museum and the
        Tate Gallery, 1994)

    2.  Has anyone recommended or placed health and safety warnings
        on objects or object containers regarding the handling of
        cellulose acetate objects with exuding plasticisers
        (analytically identified or not), as some are suspected
        carcinogens or teratogens?

Nora S. Lockshin
Master's candidate, 2002
Preservation and Conservation Studies,
GSLIS-University of Texas at Austin


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:49
                Distributed: Saturday, January 12, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-49-016
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