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Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

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130 Conservation of Furniture<br />

Table 4.1 Review of some important synthetic polymers<br />

Polymer group, names Date Description and use Simple identification<br />

and trademarks introduced<br />

and<br />

country<br />

Acrylic<br />

Poly(methyl methacrylate)<br />

(PMMA) Oroglas (Röhm &<br />

Haas – USA), Perspex (ICI<br />

– GB), Plexiglas (Röhm<br />

GmbH-D)<br />

Acrylonitrile-butadiene<br />

rubber (NBR)<br />

Nitrile rubber<br />

Acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene<br />

(ABS)<br />

Butyl rubber (BUTYL)<br />

Cellulose acetate<br />

butyrate (CAB)<br />

Uvex (Eastman Chemical<br />

Products Co., USA)<br />

Cellulosic esters<br />

cellulose nitrate (CN)<br />

cellulose acetate (CA)<br />

Epoxy (EP)<br />

PMMA:<br />

1934 UK<br />

1952 USA<br />

CN: 1870<br />

USA<br />

CA: 1905<br />

Germany<br />

1947 USA<br />

Amorphous, thermoplastic, carbon chain<br />

addition polymer. PMMA is usually<br />

produced by ‘casting’ from monomer to<br />

form clear or opaque coloured sheets or<br />

rods with good outdoor durability. Brittle<br />

unless toughened but cuts cleanly. Used<br />

as ‘unbreakable’ substitute for glass, for<br />

mouldings and light fittings. Various<br />

acrylics used as adhesives and as<br />

solution/dispersion type coatings. Widely<br />

used in conservation as consolidants and<br />

coatings<br />

Rubber formed by emulsion<br />

polymerization of acrylonitrile and<br />

butadiene. Used for oil resistant properties<br />

Amorphous thermoplastic mixture of<br />

styrene with acrylonitrile and nitrile<br />

rubber. Chemical resistant and tough with<br />

generally good impact resistance though<br />

toughness somewhat variable. Normally in<br />

opaque colours. Can be formed, moulded,<br />

extruded and calendared. Cuts cleanly<br />

Formed by ionic polymerization of<br />

isobutylene with a small proportion of<br />

isoprene. Mainly used in inner tubes for<br />

tyres. Also used as adhesive<br />

Thermoplastics formed by chemical<br />

modification of the natural polymer,<br />

cellulose, present in cotton and wood.<br />

Used with a plasticizer. CA: Moderately<br />

tough (notch brittle) with good impact<br />

resistance but poor outdoor durability.<br />

Films used in photography and for<br />

packaging are highly transparent and<br />

protective but tear easily. Found in textile<br />

fibres as cellulose acetate and triacetate.<br />

Some use as adhesive. CN used in<br />

solution type coatings<br />

Thermoplastic. Similar to cellulose acetate<br />

but with improved outdoor durability.<br />

May develop smell of rancid butter on<br />

ageing. Cuts cleanly. Also used in simple<br />

solution coatings<br />

Amorphous, thermosetting network<br />

polymer. Basic functional unit formed by<br />

reaction of epichlorhydrin with diphenylol<br />

propane can be polymerized in situ with<br />

a variety of crosslinking agents, the main<br />

ones being amines. Used for surface<br />

coatings and adhesives and some<br />

mouldings<br />

Burns noisily with blue-based<br />

yellow flame, little smoke,<br />

acrid fruity smell. Continues to<br />

burn after removal from flame.<br />

Not affected by cyclohexanone<br />

or by aromatic solvents<br />

Burns with blue-based yellow<br />

flame and black smoke with<br />

faint odour of marigolds.<br />

Continues to burn after<br />

removal from flame. Softened<br />

by cyclohexane but not by<br />

aromatic hydrocarbon solvents<br />

CA: Burns rapidly with bluebased<br />

orange flame and smell<br />

of burning paper. Sputters and<br />

drips while burning. Continues<br />

to burn after removal from<br />

flame. Softened by cyclohexane<br />

but not aromatic hydrocarbons<br />

Burns with yellow flame and<br />

smell of rancid butter.<br />

Continues to burn after<br />

removal from flame. Softened<br />

by cyclohexane but not by<br />

aromatic hydrocarbons

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