Collections Care: Plastic & Modern Materials

Topics:

Local History Toolkits

Plastic, a man-made late-comer to museum collections, offers an inexpensive, supremely-shapable alternative to these traditional materials and is now finding its way into museum collections worldwide. 

Plastics, however—especially early versions—are quite vulnerable to light exposure, pollutants, and high or fluctuating humidity levels. Their own internal compositions can also be quite unstable, allowing fillers or “plasticizers” to migrate to the surface over time and cause the material to become tacky or brittle.

As with any museum or personal collection, appropriate handling techniques and storage are the first line of defense in the preservation of objects made from any of these materials:

  • Plastic objects must always be handled with nitrile gloves due to the toxic materials that may leach out of the object
  • Minimize handling of all objects and never pick up by handles or decorative motifs
  • Always support the object with both hands
  • Practice general good housekeeping in storage and exhibition areas

For information on audiovisual and photographic materials, such as film, see “Collections Care: Audiovisual and Photographic Materials.”

General Care/Miscellaneous Types