Materials for Conservation, 2nd edition published

Materials for Conservation provides the definitive description for
the properties of materials used in conservation. In preparing this
second edition, every chapter has been extensively revised, extended
and updated. It includes modern materials such as cyclododecane, and
current ideas on adhesion, consolidation and reversibility, making
Materials for Conservation the definitive source of information in
the field

The continual struggle of conservators to ameliorate the
deterioration of objects has led to increasing use of synthetic
polymers. These materials are part of the sophisticated technology
that has been developed to augment and often replace traditional
materials and methods. Conservators are taking advantage of an
increasing range of techniques.  However, they must be able to
appreciate the potentials and pitfalls of any proposed technique,
old or new.

The first section explains physical and chemical properties which
are important in the conservation process, i.e. application, ageing,
reversal. The topics covered include molecular weight, glass
transition temperature, solubility and solvents, polymerisation and
degradation reactions. The second section provides a detailed
consideration of the individual materials, current and obsolete,
used in conservation, drawing out the factors relevant to their
effects on objects. The conservation uses of each material are
summarised and referenced to allow further study. In five
appendices, the properties of the polymers, solvents and their
interactions are tabulated, with current (and proposed) hazard
labelling and a glossary.  IUPAC and SI nomenclature is used
throughout the book.

This classic reference book should be on the bench of every
conservator and available wherever objects, from steam engines to
dried plants, are preserved.

Part I: Background Information;

    Introduction; Polymer science; Solvents; Adhesion; Uses and
    requirements of applied polymers-a summary;

Part II: Survey of Individual Polymers;

    Hydrocarbons; Vinyl acetate derived polymers; Acrylic resins;
    Miscellaneous synthetic thermoplastics; Polymers derived from
    cellulose; Natural water-soluble polymers; Natural resins;
    Cross-linking polymers; Fillers and colourants;

Appendices: Polymer properties; Solvent properties, Polymer solution
charts; Health and safety labelling, glossary, author and subject
indices.

See:

    <URL:http://www.elsevier.com/
        wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/
        723299/description#description>

    **** Moderator's comments: The above URL has been wrapped for
    email. There should be no newline.

Velson Horie
Collection Care and Conservation Consultant


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:17
               Distributed: Thursday, September 23, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-24-17-006
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