Polymers in contemporary art objects at the Art Gallery of New South Wales: a study using infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The common occurrence of polymer-based objects in museum and gallery collections means that conservators and curators require a knowledge of the polymer composition used in order to best address the care of an object. Polymer-based artworks can be examined and characterised using infrared spectroscopy. In this study, a variety of polymers from contemporary artworks in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales were examined using this technique. In addition to providing guidance on polymer components, the findings of this study have demonstrated the importance of the identification of additives in the formulation of the polymer systems employed by artists. Additives including fillers, plasticisers and processing agents present in appreciable concentrations in commercial polymers, complicate the interpretation of the infrared spectra of these materials. The findings of this collaborative study contribute to a growing resource of information on polymers in heritage collections.

KEYWORDS:

• polymers
• infrared spectroscopy
• attenuated total reflectance
• contemporary art
• additives

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Scheme under Grant LP160100160.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declaration of interest statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australian Research Council: [LP160100160].

Notes on contributors

Barbara Stuart

Barbara Stuart is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She has Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Science degrees from the University of Sydney and received a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London. She has 30 years of experience working as an academic in chemistry and materials science. She is a recognised expert and widely published author on the application of modern analytical chemical techniques, particularly vibrational spectroscopy, to forensic, archaeological and materials conservation questions.

Melanie Barrett

Melanie Barrett is a Conservator at the Singapore Art Museum and previously an Objects Conservator at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and the National Museum of Australia. She has a BSc (Hons) in Restoration and Conservation from London Metropolitan University and is currently a Masters (Research) candidate at the University of Canberra.

Sofia Lo Bianco

Sofia Lo Bianco is a Conservator at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She completed her Masters of Cultural Material Conservation at the Melbourne University in 2011 with a specialisation in objects.

Kerry Head

Kerry Head is a Museum Conservator at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney. She was previously a conservator at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her experience gained over 40 years spans the Conservation of Mixed Media collections, in both Australian and international collecting institutions with specialisations in organic-based materials and Indigenous collections. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Materials Conservation) from the University of Canberra.

Paul Thomas

Paul Thomas is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Technology Sydney. Paul has a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry and a PhD in Chemical Engineering both awarded by the University of London. Paul’s expertise is in materials characterisation using spectroscopic and thermal methods.