Rice starch

We have in our collection a model ship in a bottle that has a green
material in the bottom used to hold the model in place. The material
has the appearance of wax, and has white crystals growing over the
entire surface. Analysis with SEM/EDXRA showed that the material was
actually rice starch, with the presence of several natural sugars,
and the crystalline material was sodium chloride.

Our thoughts were that the salt was used as a setting agent for the
rice starch, and the sugars have formed from the deterioration of
the rice starch.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with rice starch as
a modelling material, or any information on the use or deterioration
of rice starch with sodium chloride.

Anna Shepherd
Conservator
Western Australia Maritime Museum
Western Australia
Fax: +61 8 9431 8489


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:56
                Distributed: Thursday, February 14, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-56-018
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