A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections

Project Member(s): Stuart, B.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage Projects)

Start year: 2016

Summary: This project aims to discover methods for predicting and increasing the lifespan of malignant plastics by comprehensively studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. Since the recent discovery of plastics, this material has become an integral part of modern life. However museums are confronted with growing collections of polymer-based materials, needing to be preserved, with a relatively short life expectancy and due to its contemporary nature, conservators with comparatively fledgling expertise for facing this issue. Museums will be provided with a model for prioritizing and effectively allocating resources for maximizing the preservation of a vulnerable group of collections for future generations.

Keywords: plastic preservation, polymers, museums

FOR Codes: Conserving Collections and Movable Cultural Heritage, Materials Conservation

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.