Publisher's Synopsis
An essential book for those needing to conserve polymers in artefacts. Polymers form an integral part of a great many artefacts of historical importance. This book deals with the artefacts of the twentieth century and provides an overview of the problems of organic polymer systems encountered in conservation. Written with a chemical/materials science approach it points to new areas of understanding in both deterioration mechanisms and conservation treatments. Unique in bringing together up-to-date results of research across the whole field, it illustrates the common principles of degradation and the different responses to treatment which have been made. Polymers in Conservation is the first book to be published on this subject and will be of great interest and use to museum curators, archivists, environmentalists and many others.
