GUIDELINES FOR THE CURATION OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

Fig. 11. Table of materials which may give off corrosive volatiles. (From Donovan & Struger 1971 and Howie in press)
Material
Industrial processing etc. Corrosiveness Volatiles evolved
1. Timbers
a. Oak, birch, sweet-chestnut
and some tropical and Australian
woods.
b. Other woods. NB. mahogany
is one of the most stable timbers.
2. Plastics
a. Nylon, epoxies, polyethylene,
polypropylene, PVC (at
ambient temps), polyurethanes,
formaldehyde condensation
polymers.
b. Polyesters
c. Polyesters
d. Poly(vina1 acetate)
e. Poly(vina1 acetate)
f. Polyformalde, with acetate
end groups.
g. Polyformaldehyde COpolymerised
with 10% ethylene
oxide.
h. Polyacrylates,
e.g. Perspex.
Natural seasoning i.e. airdrying
at ambient temps.
Natural seasoning, kiln-drying,
steam treatment of hotbonded.
Cured with non-oxidising
catalysis, e.g. gamma
radiation.
Peroxidc or hot-cured.
Without additives.
With staoilisers & inhibitors.
High, increasing with rising
temp. & rh.
Low to high
Artificially dried wood & high
temp. or rh increases
activity.
None, unless filed with
non-inert fillers, e.g. wood
flour. Under-cured formaldehyde
polymers are
corrosive.
None.
Some.
Some.
None.
Acetate group slightly corrosive
at low temps, both
corrosive at over 40°C
None.
Acetic acid
Acetic, formic & traces of
higher carboxylic acids.
Acetic or formic acids.
Acetic acid.
Formic Acid