Kemper Benjamin, Herm Christoph
Study Program of Restoration, Dresden University of Fine Arts, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Polymers (Basel). 2023 Jun 27;15(13):2838. doi: 10.3390/polym15132838.
In 1935, the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden began to produce the so-called Transparent Figures, which became icons of the 20th century. This study aims to explore the effects of external agents such as humidity and temperature on the aging mechanism of the materials of the Transparent Figures and to slow it down through preventive measures. The focus is on cellulose acetate (CA), which was used for the outer skin of the Transparent Figures. The original objects were investigated using FTIR, Raman, and GC-MS. On some Transparent Figures, liquid leakage of additives occurs when the relative humidity rises above 50-60% RH and is accompanied by a release of acetic acid. Based on these findings, original CA used for the production of the Transparent Figures was artificially re-aged at 70 °C while varying the relative humidity. The specimens were analyzed with colorimetry and GC-MS. Additive content, degree of substitution and degree of polymerization were determined. The results showed that the degradation is slowed down at 30% RH compared to aging at 50% RH or 70% RH. Thus, lowering the relative humidity seems effective in slowing down the degradation of the CA of the Transparent Figures. A relative humidity of 30% RH and a temperature of 15 °C are recommended.
1935年,德累斯顿德国卫生博物馆开始制作所谓的透明人体模型,这些模型成为了20世纪的标志性物品。本研究旨在探讨湿度和温度等外部因素对透明人体模型材料老化机制的影响,并通过预防措施减缓其老化。重点关注用于透明人体模型外皮的醋酸纤维素(CA)。使用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、拉曼光谱和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)对原始物品进行了研究。在一些透明人体模型上,当相对湿度升至50-60%RH以上时,添加剂会发生液体泄漏,并伴有乙酸释放。基于这些发现,用于制作透明人体模型的原始CA在70°C下进行人工再老化,同时改变相对湿度。用比色法和GC-MS对样品进行分析。测定了添加剂含量、取代度和聚合度。结果表明,与在50%RH或70%RH下老化相比,在30%RH下老化时降解速度减缓。因此,降低相对湿度似乎对减缓透明人体模型CA的降解有效。建议相对湿度为30%RH,温度为15°C。